Telecommunication Tech May Improve PrEP Adherence in Black, Latino Individuals

Just 4 out of 10 studies investigating how telecommunication technology can benefit pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care in people at risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) focused on the racial ethnic populations with the most need: people who are Black and Hispanic/Latino. Researchers reported findings of their systematic review in the journal AIDS and Behavior.

In the United States in 2019, people who were Black accounted for 41%, and people who were Hispanic/Latino accounted for 29% of new HIV diagnoses, reported researchers. A 2018 study estimated that 43.7% of people who are Black and 24.7% of people who are Hispanic/Latino have indications for PrEP use.

“Reducing barriers challenging these populations is vital to ensure adequate access, medication adherence, and persistence in PrEP care to effectively reduce disparities in rates of new HIV infections,” wrote study lead and corresponding author Kimberly N. Evans and coauthors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of HIV Prevention.

The systematic review focused on how studies have used electronic telecommunication to increase awareness, uptake, adherence, and persistence in PrEP care among people who are Black and Hispanic/Latino and how such technology can reduce social and structural barriers that contribute to disparities in HIV infection. Among 1114 potential articles, 10 met eligibility requirements.

Four studies focused on Black or Hispanic/Latino people, while 8 addressed social and structural barriers to initiating or adhering to PrEP, such as navigation or access to PrEP, according to study authors.

Some 30% of the studies used telehealth (for example, the use of phone or videoconferencing with prescribing providers), and 20% used e-health (such as use of e-videos), reported researchers. The use of mobile or smartphones, which researchers classified as m-health, made up 50% of the designs to increase PrEP adherence.

“Overall, the use of telecommunication technology to advance patients along the PrEP care continuum is promising,” wrote researchers. “There are still important gaps that exist in our knowledge base about how to effectively use telecommunication technologies among populations who could most benefit, for sustainable impact on PrEP outcomes.”

Reference:
Evans KN, Hassan R, Townes A, Buchacz K, Smith DK. The potential of telecommunication technology to address racial/ethnic disparities in HIV PrEP awareness, uptake, adherence, and persistence in care: a review. AIDS Behav. Published online May 25, 2022. doi:10.1007/s10461-022-03715-4