The impact of PrEP on the sex lives of MSM at high risk for HIV infection: results of a Belgian cohort

Thijs Reyniers; Christiana Nöstlinger; Bea Vuylsteke; Irith De Baetselier; Kristien Wouters; Marie Laga

doi:10.1007/s10461-020-03010-0

The impact of PrEP on the sex lives of MSM at high risk for HIV infection: results of a Belgian cohort

Thijs Reyniers, Christiana Nöstlinger, Bea Vuylsteke, Irith De Baetselier, Kristien Wouters, Marie Laga

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article

Abstract

There is a need for an in-depth understanding of the impact of PrEP on users' sexual health and behaviour, beyond the focus on 'risk'. This mixed-method study was part of a Belgian PrEP demonstration project following 200 men who have sex with men (MSM) for at least 18 months. Taking a grounded-theory approach, 22 participants were interviewed and their transcripts analysed. The preliminary analysis guided the analysis of the questionnaire data. Overall, PrEP improved sexual health. Participants felt better protected against HIV, which enabled them to change their sexual behaviour. The reduction in condom use was moderated by interviewees' attitudes towards the risk for other STIs. Other changes included having more anal sex and experimentation with new sexual behaviours. While PrEP empowers MSM in taking care of their sexual health, comprehensive sexual health counselling is crucial to provide care for users who feel less in control over their sexual health.

Original language	English
Journal	AIDS and Behavior
Volume	25
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	532-541
Number of pages	10
ISSN	1090-7165
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03010-0
Publication status	Published - 2021

Keywords

Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use
Belgium/epidemiology
HIV Infections/drug therapy
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Male
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Sexual Behavior
Sexual and Gender Minorities

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@article{77c5ea7347f547b49659d1cd60393d39,

title = "The impact of PrEP on the sex lives of MSM at high risk for HIV infection: results of a Belgian cohort",

abstract = "There is a need for an in-depth understanding of the impact of PrEP on users' sexual health and behaviour, beyond the focus on 'risk'. This mixed-method study was part of a Belgian PrEP demonstration project following 200 men who have sex with men (MSM) for at least 18 months. Taking a grounded-theory approach, 22 participants were interviewed and their transcripts analysed. The preliminary analysis guided the analysis of the questionnaire data. Overall, PrEP improved sexual health. Participants felt better protected against HIV, which enabled them to change their sexual behaviour. The reduction in condom use was moderated by interviewees' attitudes towards the risk for other STIs. Other changes included having more anal sex and experimentation with new sexual behaviours. While PrEP empowers MSM in taking care of their sexual health, comprehensive sexual health counselling is crucial to provide care for users who feel less in control over their sexual health.",

keywords = "Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use, Belgium/epidemiology, HIV Infections/drug therapy, Homosexuality, Male, Humans, Male, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, Sexual Behavior, Sexual and Gender Minorities",

author = "Thijs Reyniers and Christiana N{\"o}stlinger and Bea Vuylsteke and {De Baetselier}, Irith and Kristien Wouters and Marie Laga",

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year = "2021",

doi = "10.1007/s10461-020-03010-0",

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T1 - The impact of PrEP on the sex lives of MSM at high risk for HIV infection: results of a Belgian cohort

AU - Reyniers, Thijs

AU - Nöstlinger, Christiana

AU - Vuylsteke, Bea

AU - De Baetselier, Irith

AU - Wouters, Kristien

AU - Laga, Marie

N1 - NPP; PPT

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - There is a need for an in-depth understanding of the impact of PrEP on users' sexual health and behaviour, beyond the focus on 'risk'. This mixed-method study was part of a Belgian PrEP demonstration project following 200 men who have sex with men (MSM) for at least 18 months. Taking a grounded-theory approach, 22 participants were interviewed and their transcripts analysed. The preliminary analysis guided the analysis of the questionnaire data. Overall, PrEP improved sexual health. Participants felt better protected against HIV, which enabled them to change their sexual behaviour. The reduction in condom use was moderated by interviewees' attitudes towards the risk for other STIs. Other changes included having more anal sex and experimentation with new sexual behaviours. While PrEP empowers MSM in taking care of their sexual health, comprehensive sexual health counselling is crucial to provide care for users who feel less in control over their sexual health.

AB - There is a need for an in-depth understanding of the impact of PrEP on users' sexual health and behaviour, beyond the focus on 'risk'. This mixed-method study was part of a Belgian PrEP demonstration project following 200 men who have sex with men (MSM) for at least 18 months. Taking a grounded-theory approach, 22 participants were interviewed and their transcripts analysed. The preliminary analysis guided the analysis of the questionnaire data. Overall, PrEP improved sexual health. Participants felt better protected against HIV, which enabled them to change their sexual behaviour. The reduction in condom use was moderated by interviewees' attitudes towards the risk for other STIs. Other changes included having more anal sex and experimentation with new sexual behaviours. While PrEP empowers MSM in taking care of their sexual health, comprehensive sexual health counselling is crucial to provide care for users who feel less in control over their sexual health.

KW - Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use

KW - Belgium/epidemiology

KW - HIV Infections/drug therapy

KW - Homosexuality, Male

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

KW - Sexual Behavior

KW - Sexual and Gender Minorities

U2 - 10.1007/s10461-020-03010-0

DO - 10.1007/s10461-020-03010-0

M3 - A1: Web of Science-article

C2 - 32857317

VL - 25

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JO - AIDS and Behavior

JF - AIDS and Behavior

SN - 1090-7165

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