The HIV Field Services Unit (FSU) at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene assists newly HIV-diagnosed persons with linkage to care and partner services (PS). PS entails elicitation of sex or needle-sharing partners, notification, HIV testing, linkage to care of HIV-diagnosed partners, prevention education and resource provision. In April 2015, FSU began collecting information on partners’ knowledge and use of post- and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP and PrEP) in addition to providing resources on PEP and PrEP.
METHODS:
We collected data on PEP/PrEP knowledge and use through the standard Partner Investigation Form that elicits socio-demographic and sexual risk information. We conducted univariate and bivariate analyses of partners having heard of PEP/PrEP, discussed PEP/PrEP with a provider, and used PEP/PrEP in the past 6 months, by partners’ age group, race/ethnicity, gender, marital status and condomless anal sex.
RESULTS:
Of 205 partners interviewed, 32% reported hearing of PEP, 19% had discussed PEP with a provider and 1% reported PEP use in the past 6 months. In contrast, 47% of partners reported hearing of PrEP and 31% said that they had discussed PrEP. PrEP use in the past 6 months was reported by 12%, with 9% reporting current use. Statistically significant differences were found in PEP and PrEP knowledge by race/ethnicity, gender and self-reported condomless anal sex. Only 25% of Black partners had heard of PEP, versus 33% of Hispanics and 55% of Whites. PrEP knowledge was 35% among Black partners, 46% among Hispanics and 73% among Whites. PEP knowledge among male partners was 39% versus 22% among females, whereas PrEP knowledge was 55% and 27%, respectively. Of partners who reported condomless anal sex, 51% and 58% had knowledge of PEP and PrEP respectively, versus 23% and 38% among those who did not. Race/ethnicity was significantly associated with PEP/PrEP discussion with a provider. Only 10% of Black partners reported discussing PEP versus 31% of Hispanics and 23% of Whites. Discussion of PrEP was reported by 19% of Black partners versus 39% of Hispanics and 62% of Whites.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings show that fewer than half of notified partners had knowledge of PEP/PrEP. Among race/ethnic groups, Black partners were least likely to have knowledge or discussion of PEP/PrEP with a provider. In November 2015, the FSU began offering information and linkage for PEP/PrEP to partners. These findings point to the need for targeted PEP/PrEP messaging and resource delivery.