Social Networks and Its Impact on Women's Awareness, Interest, and Uptake of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): Implications for Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence.

BACKGROUND

In the United States, women represent less than 5% of all pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users. Social networks may promote and/or inhibit women's PrEP awareness, which could influence PrEP intentions. Furthermore, women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) may have smaller, less supportive networks, which could deter or have no impact on PrEP care engagement. This study examined associations between network characteristics and women's PrEP awareness, interest, uptake, and perceived candidacy and analyzed IPV as an effect modifier.

SETTING/METHODS: From 2017 to 2018, data were collected from a prospective cohort study of 218 PrEP-eligible women with (n = 94) and without (n = 124) IPV experiences in Connecticut. Women completed surveys on demographics, IPV, social networks, and PrEP care continuum outcomes.

RESULTS

Adjusted analyses showed that PrEP awareness related to having more PrEP-aware alters. PrEP intentions related to having more alters with favorable opinions of women's potential PrEP use and a smaller network size. Viewing oneself as an appropriate PrEP candidate related to having more PrEP-aware alters and more alters with favorable opinions of women's potential PrEP use. IPV modified associations between network characteristics and PrEP care. Having members who were aware of and/or used PrEP was positively associated with PrEP care engagement for women without IPV experiences but had either no effect or the opposite effect for women experiencing IPV.

CONCLUSION

Improving PrEP attitudes might improve its utilization among women. Social network interventions might be one way to increase PrEP uptake among many US women but may not be as effective for women experiencing IPV.