Factors Associated with Planned Future Use of PrEP in the Next 3 Months and Likelihood to Use PrEP Among Black Cisgender HIV-negative Women in Texas

Abstract

Identifying and then addressing barriers and leveraging facilitators is important to help increase pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among Black women vulnerable to HIV acquisition. The present cross-sectional study examined what factors were associated with future plans to use PrEP, and general likelihood to use it among a convenience sample of 152 adult, Black cisgender women from three metropolitan areas in Texas. The final multivariable logistic regression model revealed that relationship status (aOR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05–0.73, p < 0.05), PrEP anticipated stigma (aOR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.10–0.78, p < 0.05), perceived discrimination (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21–0.78, p < 0.01) and interest in learning more about PrEP (aOR = 5.32, 95% CI: 2.60–10.9, p < 0.001) were associated with future plans to use PrEP. The final multivariable linear regression model with maximum likelihood estimation identified that perceived discrimination (β=-0.24, SE: -0.38 – -0.10, p < 0.01), perceived HIV risk (β = 0.33, SE: 0.18–0.49, p < 0.001), willingness to use PrEP with condoms (β = 1.26, SE: 0.94–1.60, p < 0.001), and comfort communicating about PrEP with a provider (β = 0.23, SE: 0.06–0.41, p < 0.01) were associated with general likelihood to use PrEP. Findings reveal key factors that warrant further attention and examination toward improving PrEP use within this population.