PrEP in India’s HIV Prevention Policy in the Era of Social Media and Sex Positivity

Gaur A., Rakhmanina N.

Cameron M.P., Newman P.A., Chakrapani V., Shunmugam M., Roungprakhon S., Rawat S., Baruah D., Nelson R., Tepjan S., Scarpa R.

Introduction India has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world. Despite successes in epidemic control at the population level, a concentrated epidemic persists among gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM). However, India lags in implementation of biomedical prevention technologies, such as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). In order to inform scale-up of new HIV prevention technologies, including those in the development pipeline, we assessed willingness to use oral PrEP, rectal microbicides, and HIV vaccines, and choices among product characteristics, among MSM in two major Indian cities. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a discrete choice experiment (DCE), an established methodology for quantitively estimating end-user preferences in healthcare. Survey participants were randomly assigned to one of three questionnaire versions, each of which included a DCE for one prevention technology. Participants were recruited using chain-referral sampling by peer outreach workers, beginning with seeds in community-based organizations and public sex environments, in Chennai and Mumbai. DCE data were analyzed using random-parameters (mixed) logit (RPL) models. Results Among participants (n = 600), median age was 25 years, with median monthly income of INR 9,000 (~US$125). Nearly one-third (32%) had completed a college degree and 82% were single/never married. A majority of participants (63%) reported condomless anal sex in the past month. The acceptability of all three products was universally high (≥90%). Across all three products, four attributes were significant predictors of acceptability—with efficacy consistently the most important attribute, and in decreasing order of preference, side-effects, dosing schedule, and venue. MSM varied in their preferences for product attributes in relation to their levels of education and income, and engagement in sex work and HIV risk behavior. Conclusion This study provides empirical evidence to facilitate the integration of end users’ preferences throughout design, testing, and dissemination phases of HIV prevention technologies. The findings also suggest action points and targets for interventions for diverse subgroups to support the effectiveness of combination HIV prevention among MSM in India.

Goswami S., Borate S., Marupuru S., Marupuru S.

Kharwar S., Singh P.

Evidence of experienced discrimination by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals makes it necessary to investigate antecedents of prejudice towards them. Desired social contact (DSC) and social distancing practices towards LGBT community may be related to the knowledge about and attitudes towards the LGBT community. However, the inter-construct mechanism underlying such practices needs to be investigated. Considering this need, the present study explored the relationship between knowledge, attitude, DSC and social distance practices towards the LGBT community. A total of 315 heterosexual participants (male—184, female—131; Mage = 24.66, SDage = 3.38) were contacted through emails and social media between November 2021 and February 2022 and requested to fill the questionnaires. The findings indicate that the relationships between knowledge, DSC and social distancing practices are significantly mediated by attitudes towards the LGBT community. The standardized indirect effect of knowledge (via attitude) on DSC was statistically significant (β = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.54, 0.40; p = 0.005). Also, knowledge’s standard indirect effect (via attitude) on social distancing was statistically significant (β =  − 0.25; 95% CI, − 0.32, − 0.16; p = 0.005). The findings assert that knowledge about and attitude towards LGBT community play a crucial role in shaping social contact and social distancing practices towards them. Increased knowledge about alternative sexualities may effectively reduce negative attitudes and social distancing practices and create a more inclusive and accepting society for sexual minority groups. Policymakers should strive to enhance the knowledge of general populations concerning sexuality and homosexual attractions through awareness programs and formal teaching.

Majumder S., Kar A.