Majority of Vancouver men remain unaware of HIV prevention drug, study finds

published on March 11, 2016 by Craig Takeuchi, in The Georgia Straight

A BC Centre for Excellence study has found that approximately three-quarters of Vancouver men who have sex with men remain unaware of a proven-effective prevention method for HIV.

The study, published in February in AIDS and Behavior, found that over 70 percent of gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM) don't know about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Only 20.9 percent of HIV–negative participants and 26.5 HIV–positive participants knew about PrEP.

None of the participants in the study, conducted from February 2012 to February 2014) were using PrEP.

"PrEP can be a tool for stopping the spread of HIV, alongside the scaling up treatment for those living with the disease under Treatment as Prevention," BC-CfE director Dr. Julio Montaner stated in a news release. "We have seen progress in reducing HIV viral load among Vancouver MSM, however there are remaining steps to close awareness gaps around HIV prevention. These include updating messaging to reflect options available, increasing access to PrEP and integrating it as part of a more comprehensive public health approach."

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© Copyright BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
St. Paul's Hospital 608–1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6
Tel: 604-806-8477 | Fax: 604-806-9044
General inquiries: info@bccfe.ca
Media inquiries: communications@bccfe.ca
(Please do not use any of these email addresses to send personal information or book an appointment. To book appointments or contact the H2H clinic, please call 604-416-1517 or fax: 604-564-4893. Do not send your or your client's personal information via email.)

Our work serves clients and communities across British Columbia on lands and waters cared for and nurtured by the many distinct First Nations across the province. The BC-CfE humbly and gratefully acknowledge the stewards of these lands, particularly the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) on whose unceded, traditional and ancestral territories our offices are located.