Looptijd: 1-8-2023 tot 31-3-2024
Substudie ACS: PrEP surfing: Unprotected anal sex choices based on the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use of sexual partners: prevalence and practices among participants of the Amsterdam Cohort Studies
MSM are at increased HIV risk. HIV prevention strategies among these men include (1) condom-use, (2) HIV sero-sorting (i.e. condom-use and PrEP-use based on one’s sexual partner’s HIV status, (3) HIV viral load sorting (i.e. condom-use and PrEP-use based on the viral load of one’s partner with HIV and (4) PrEP use. Not all MSM who are PrEP eligible want to use PrEP (e.g., because of (1) the burden of daily-pill taking, (2) stigma on taking antiretrovirals, (3) side-effects, (4) available regimens not fitting lifestyle or sexual behavioral pattern, and (5) inability to access formal PrEP). The latter might be due to the limited capacity of formal PrEP programs (i.e. in the Netherlands the Dutch National PrEP Pilot Program) or having difficulties accessing PrEP through general practitioners. Some MSM who want to protect themselves from contracting HIV, but do not wish to use condoms may choose to depend on their partner’s PrEP use status, assuming that PrEP use would indicate their partner is HIV negative and therefore not able to infect them. This strategy is refered to as PrEP surfing or PrEP sorting. It is not known how common this practice is and whether the intention to deploy it is prevalent among MSM in Amsterdam.