Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University, Miami, FL, USA.
Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University, 7255 NE 4th Avenue, Suite 112, Miami, FL, 33138, USA.
AIDS Behav. 2019 Jul;23(7):1790-1796. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2281-4.
The use of geosocial networking applications (e.g., Grindr) among men who have sex with men (MSM) is common. Yet scant research has examined how antiretroviral medications (ARVs)-including informal use-diversion and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are presented inside of the applications. The present study examines this phenomenon. Data are drawn from a qualitative study (N = 39) of the scope and magnitude of the informal market of ARV use for HIV prevention among MSM. Twenty-five participants reported seeing references to ARVs inside the applications. Men described geosocial networking application users' presentations of ARVs as being related to: PrEP use among HIV-negative MSM, the sale and/or use of illicit drugs (e.g., methamphetamine), informal trade/sale for HIV-prevention, and PrEP use among HIV-positive men. Findings suggest continued desire for and acceptability of PrEP as HIV prevention tool and that geosocial networking apps are being used to facilitate the exchange and informal use of ARVs for HIV-prevention. Geosocial networking applications represent a promising and important platform to educate MSM about safe and effective use of PrEP and the risks related to diversion and informal ARV use.
男男性行为者（MSM）中使用基于地理位置的社交网络应用程序（例如 Grindr）很常见。然而，几乎没有研究探讨过抗逆转录病毒药物（ARV）——包括非正式使用、药物转移和暴露前预防（PrEP）——在这些应用程序中是如何呈现的。本研究探讨了这一现象。数据来自一项针对 MSM 中 HIV 预防用 ARV 非正式市场的范围和规模的定性研究（N=39）。25 名参与者报告在应用程序中看到了 ARV 的参考信息。男性描述了基于地理位置的社交网络应用程序用户对 ARV 的呈现，这些呈现与：HIV 阴性 MSM 中 PrEP 的使用、非法药物（例如冰毒）的销售和/或使用、HIV 预防的非正式交易/销售以及 HIV 阳性男性中 PrEP 的使用有关。研究结果表明，人们对 PrEP 作为 HIV 预防工具的持续需求和可接受性，以及基于地理位置的社交网络应用程序正被用于促进 ARV 的交换和非正式使用，以预防 HIV。基于地理位置的社交网络应用程序代表了一个有前途和重要的平台，可以教育 MSM 关于安全有效的 PrEP 使用，以及与转移和非正式 ARV 使用相关的风险。
