Intimate Partner Violence, Partner Risk, and Depression as a Predictor for PrEP Uptake Among African-American Women in the United States.

Abstract

African-Americans bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infections in the United States and African-American women make up 64% of new HIV infections. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the predictors of those who are more likely to use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among women reporting IPV, depression, and partner risk. This study used secondary data analysis to explore IPV, depression, and increased partner risk as predictors of PrEP use among 768 women (506 African-American women and 262 White women in the United States) who responded to survey questions regarding potential PrEP use and barriers to uptake. The parent data had been collected at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. Results of the data analysis of the sample (N = 768) indicated that women who reported high levels of partner risk (p < 0.05), depression (p < 0.01), and/or experienced IPV (p < 0.01), were more likely to use PrEP. In addition, younger women aged 20-35 were more likely to use PrEP, compared to women older than 36 years. Furthermore, college educated African-American women were more likely to use PrEP than White women. Despite limitations, findings indicated that IPV, depression, and partner risk are predictors of PrEP use. There is need for a multi-modal approach in addressing these predictors of PrEP use among African-American women in the United States.