Open AccessDelivering Preexposure Prophylaxis to People Who Use Drugs and Experience Homelessness, Boston, MA, 2018–2020
Author(s) -
Katie B. Biello,
Angela R. Bazzi,
Seamus Vahey,
Miriam Harris,
Leah Shaw,
Jennifer K Brody
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2021.306208
Subject(s) - pre exposure prophylaxis , medicine , medical prescription , confidence interval , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , family medicine , gerontology , psychiatry , demography , men who have sex with men , nursing , syphilis , sociology
Despite high need, HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) utilization among people who use drugs (PWUD) remains low. Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program implemented an innovative "low-threshold" PrEP Program for PWUD experiencing homelessness in Boston, Massachusetts. From October 1, 2018 to February 29, 2020, 239 clients were linked to PrEP services, and 152 were prescribed PrEP (mean = 8.9/month), over twice the number of PrEP prescriptions over the previous 12 months (n = 48; mean = 4/month). The cumulative probability of remaining on PrEP for 6 months was 44% (95% confidence interval = 36%, 52%).