Citation

Willie TC, Kershaw TS, Blackstock O, Galvao RW, Safon CB, Tekeste M, Ogburn DF, Wilbourn B, Modrakovic D, Taggart T, Kaplan C, Caldwell A, Calabrese SK. AIDS Care 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09540121.2020.1762067

PMID

32408837

Abstract

Women with syndemic conditions, i.e., two or more co-occurring epidemics, are at elevated risk for HIV acquisition and are therefore prime candidates for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). However, PrEP uptake remains low among women, especially among Black and Hispanic women. This study examined associations of syndemic conditions with PrEP attitudes and HIV risk among women, and the moderating effect of race and ethnicity. In 2017, 271 non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic, PrEP-eligible women engaged in care at Planned Parenthood in the northeastern region of the U.S. completed an online survey. Participants reported syndemic conditions (i.e., intimate partner violence, depression, substance use), PrEP attitudes (e.g., PrEP interest), HIV sexual risk (e.g., multiple male sexual partners), and sociodemographics. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the effects of syndemic conditions on PrEP attitudes and HIV risk, and the moderating effect of race and ethnicity. Women with more syndemic conditions had a higher odds of reporting multiple male sexual partners. Syndemic conditions were positively associated with PrEP attitudes for Hispanic women than non-Hispanic Black and White women. Women with syndemic conditions, particularly Hispanic women, may be receptive to interventions promoting PrEP.

Language: en