Obstacles to HIV Elimination: A Situational Analysis of PrEP Uptake and Equity

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection has been shown to be highly effective in preventing infection. Although the overall use of PrEP has increased since its licensure in 2012, substantial disparities in its uptake continue to be documented, especially among Black and Hispanic Americans. Achieving HIV elimination in the U.S. requires scale-up of culturally competent and linguistically appropriate PrEP services in both traditional and non-traditional settings. This commentary examines how recent actions undertaken by the U.S. federal government are likely to impede PrEP uptake and exacerbate existing disparities, thereby interfering with efforts to end the HIV epidemic in America.