Digital HIV information seeking and willingness to use a smartphone application for PrEP care among persons who inject drugs in Northeast Georgia, United States.

Abstract

Georgia has one of the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in the United States, while rates of PrEP uptake are among the lowest. This study examines the association between seeking digital HIV information and willingness to use smartphone applications (app) for PrEP resources and services among people who inject drugs (PWID) living in northeast Georgia. Data were collected from adult HIV-negative PWID who reported using the internet (N = 130). Most participants were cisgender men (67.7%), uninsured (53.3%), and were heavily drug dependent (74.6%). A majority were aware of PrEP (51.5%), used the internet daily (65.4%), and had a mobile device with internet access (89.2%). However, most reported they did not seek HIV information on the internet (72.3%). Almost half of participants (49.2%) were willing to use a PrEP-focused app. In the multivariable logistic regression model, willingness to use a PrEP app was more likely among PWID who sought HIV information (adjusted OR: 2.69, 95%CI: 1.06-6.86) than those who did not, who had never or rarely engaged in HIV testing (adjusted OR: 4.11, 95%CI: 1.52-11.14) than those who tested more frequently. The results show that a PrEP app may be a promising strategy for increasing PrEP awareness and uptake among PWID.