Marseille 2007
| Abstract #216 - Doing the right thing?: Homosexually active mens experiences of seeking and taking post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following potential sexual exposure to HIV | ||||
|
Session: 48.6: Behaviour and prevention (Parallel) on Wednesday @ 08.30-10.30 in CP Chaired by Michael Ross, Marie Preau Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Catherine Dodds - University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom |
||||
| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Seeking and taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in the UK is rare. Only 1.4% of men completing the Gay Mens Sex Survey (GMSS) in the UK in 2005 had ever tried to get PEP. A qualitative study was undertaken in England and Wales to examine homosexually active mens experiences of accessing and taking PEP following potential sexual HIV exposure. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Men taking part in GMSS who had ever tried to access PEP were invited to be interviewed about their most recent experience. Thirty men were interviewed about the sexual risk incident, how they went about seeking PEP, their clinical visits, and their subsequent sexual risk behaviour. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The majority of respondents were highly conscious of HIV risk prior to the incident that prompted them to seek PEP. Some were in known sero-discordant relationships and sought PEP following an unanticipated exposure. Others described accidents, or having experienced a temporary lapse of their usual control over HIV risk. Most said that the experience had not changed their cautious approach to sexual risk and for some it had increased their determination to avoid HIV exposure. A sizeable minority encountered stigmatising attitudes and ignorance about PEP on the part of medical staff including receptionists, nurses and consultants. Some were made to feel irresponsible and undeserving. Not all of those who were in need of PEP received it. | ||||
| Discussion: The discourses on risk, responsibility, and health care access among respondents indicate that those men who seek PEP are probably more willing to adopt health-seeking behaviours than their peers, in spite of the potential difficulties. Alongside work conducted in other countries, these findings challenge the common notion that access to PEP will lead to an increase in sexual behaviour that risks HIV exposure. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||
