PrEP Prescription Among MSM U.S. Military Service Members: Race and Sexual Identification Matter

Abstract

An estimated 20.9% of U.S. service members report a high risk of HIV infection; however, only 2,000 service members had accessed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as of 2017. This study used a cross-sectional design to explore PrEP prescription predictors among service members who identify as a man who have sex with other men (MSM) ( n = 354). Logistic regression was performed to assess the influence of four predictor variables: partner HIV status, race/ethnicity, primary partner gender, and sexual orientation on the odds participants’ report being prescribed PrEP. A majority identified as gay ( n = 246, 69.5%) and 23.4% ( n = 83) identified as bisexual. Bisexual participants were 2.1 times ( p = <.04) less likely to be prescribed PrEP. Accordingly, those who identify their primary sex partner as female were 5.1 times less likely to be prescribed PrEP ( p < .001). MSM service members who had a partner disclose their HIV-positive status were 4.1 times more likely to have been prescribed PrEP ( p = .013). Finally, participants who identify as Black were 3 times more likely ( p = .001), and Latinx MSM were 3.6 times more likely ( p = .003) to have been prescribed PrEP.