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Understanding the Acceptability of Subdermal Implants as a Possible New HIV Prevention Method: Multi-Stage Mixed
Christine Tagliaferri Rael1, Cody Lentz1, Alex Carballo-Diéguez1
1HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|April 30, 2020
Summary
Long-acting implants for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) show promise for gay and bisexual men (GBM). User experiences suggest acceptability, with fewer implants for longer protection being key.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Sciences
- Public Health
- Clinical Research
Background:
- A novel long-acting implant for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is under development.
- This implant aims to offer an alternative to daily oral PrEP medication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore user experiences with similar subdermal contraceptive implants.
- To identify factors influencing the adoption of a new PrEP implant among gay and bisexual men (GBM).
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach was employed, including literature reviews, analysis of online videos, in-depth interviews, and a quantitative web-based survey.
- Participants included users of contraceptive implants and HIV-negative GBM assessing their likelihood of using a PrEP implant.
Main Results:
- Concerns regarding contraceptive implants included side effects, cost, and access, which may translate to PrEP implants.
- Users reported implants as comfortable with minor insertion/removal discomfort; contraceptive side effects were primary reasons for removal.
- A significant majority of GBM found the prospect of not taking a daily pill increased their likelihood of using a PrEP implant (mean 4.13).
Conclusions:
- Subdermal PrEP implants are a promising HIV prevention option for GBM.
- User acceptance is high, with minimal deterrence from implant features or insertion/removal issues.
- Optimizing the duration of protection per implant is crucial for maximizing acceptability.
