Perceived Risk Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Serodiscordant Couples in East Africa Taking Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. Issue 8 (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carroll, Jennifer J.; Heffron, Renee; Mugo, Nelly; Ngure, Kenneth; Ndase, Patrick; Asiimwe, Stephen; Celum, Connie; Baeten, Jared M.
• Is Part Of: Sexually transmitted diseases. Volume 43:Issue 8(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; Sexual health -- Periodicals; 616.951005
• DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000472
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0148-5717

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Perceived risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is thought to drive low adherence in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) trials. We explored the level of perceived risk of incident HIV infection in the Partners PrEP Study, in which adherence was generally high. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire assessed perceived risk of HIV at 12 months after enrollment. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between perceived risk and other demographic and behavioral variables. Results: Three thousand two hundred twenty-six couples from the Partners PrEP Study were included in this analysis. Only 15.4% of participants reported high or moderate perceived risk. Participants at high risk of acquiring HIV were slightly more likely to report high perceived risk (odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.30–1.95; P < 0.001); nevertheless, only 20% of participants with high-risk reported high perceived risk. Conclusions: Participants reported low perceived risk of HIV but were adherent to PrEP. Perceptions of risk are likely socially determined and more complex than Likert scale questionnaires capture. Abstract : A study among heterosexual adults in Kenya and Uganda found that perceived risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection was low overall and that low perceived risk was not a predictor of poor adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis.