Social network intervention to increase pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, interest, and use among African American men who have sex with men

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn the U.S., HIV incidence is highest among Black men who have sex with men (MSM) but PrEP uptake is low, in part due to lack of normative support for using PrEP. This research pilot tested a social network-level intervention designed to increase PrEP use willingness, interest, and peer supports among Black MSM in Milwaukee. Five community social networks (n = 40 participants) of racial minority MSM were assessed at baseline with measures of PrEP knowledge, interest, attitudes, and action taking. Persons most interconnected with others in each network attended an intervention that provided training to increase knowledge about PrEPbenefits, address PrEP concerns, endorse PrEP use as a symbol of pride and health, and deliver these messages to others in their social networks. All network members were re-administered the same measures at 3-month followup. Significant increases over time were found in network members’ PrEP knowledge, attitudes, norm perceptions, self-efficacy, and willingness to use PrEP. Participants more often talked with friends about HIV and with their health care providers about PrEP. The percentage of participants who reported using PrEP increased from 3% to 11%. Larger-scale evaluations of this intervention model are needed.