PrEP awareness, willingness, and likelihood to use future HIV prevention methods among undergraduate college students in an ending the HIV epidemic jurisdiction

Abstract

Objective Identify factors associated with PrEP awareness, willingness, and future prevention modalities among undergraduate college students. Participants Undergraduates (N = 701) were recruited from a private university, a public research university, and a private historically Black college and university for an online survey. Methods Upon multiple imputations, a multivariate logistic model, a multivariate multinomial model, and independent multivariate ordinal logistic models were used to calculate Rubin’s rules-pooled adjusted odds ratios for PrEP awareness, willingness, and future HIV prevention methods. Results Only 33.4% of students had heard of and 32.4% were willing to take PrEP. PrEP willingness was higher among sexual minority students compared to heterosexual/straight students (OR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.03–2.63); p = .036). The likelihood to take a future vaccine or antibody prophylaxis treatment was higher than the likelihood to take injectable PrEP or implants. Conclusions Interventions to increase PrEP uptake and willingness among undergraduates should emphasize equity in HIV education and include future prevention modalities.