Context Specific HIV Risk: Evidence from Screening into the Southern Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Study (SPECs)

Citation

LeMasters, Katherine; Krajewski, Taylor; Nowotny, Kathryn; Oser, Carrie; Mollan, Katie R.; & Brinkley-Rubinstein, Lauren (2023). Context Specific HIV Risk: Evidence from Screening into the Southern Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Study (SPECs). AIDS Care, 35(4), 474-479. PMCID: PMC9530063

Abstract

While Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is efficacious in preventing HIV, little is known about PrEP use among those on community supervision. The Southern Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Study (SPECS) investigates barriers and facilitators for PrEP initiation and use among adults on community supervision (e.g., probation, parole). Challenges to PrEP use in this setting are abundant. SPECS uses a mixed-methods sequential design, including a multi-site, prospective cohort study in three southern states - North Carolina, Florida, and Kentucky. This analysis describes individual demographic, criminal legal, and HIV risk factor characteristics, by site and enrollment status. Pooled association analyses accounted for site via stratified statistical tests. Between June 2019-March 2020, SPECS screened 702 individuals and enrolled 276 participants (39%). Of those who were eligible, 98% agreed to enroll. Age, gender, and sexual orientation varied by enrollment and by site, while race/ethnicity varied by site but not enrollment status. Criminal legal histories varied by enrollment and HIV risk factors varied by site. SPECS provides a granular and detailed assessment of HIV risk in three diverse southern settings. It highlights how the level and type of HIV risk varies by location and by nature of criminal legal involvement and calls for the need for context-specific interventions for HIV prevention.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2022.2059054

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2023

Journal Title

AIDS Care

Author(s)

LeMasters, Katherine
Krajewski, Taylor
Nowotny, Kathryn
Oser, Carrie
Mollan, Katie R.
Brinkley-Rubinstein, Lauren

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC9530063

Data Set/Study

Southern Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Study (SPECS)

Continent/Country

United States of America

State

Kentucky
North Carolina
Florida

ORCiD

LeMasters - 0000-0002-1754-1730