HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis initiation behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic - Poster - Key findings

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Kurz

Overview of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic using data from Clinique L’Actuel in Montreal. The study examines changes in PrEP uptake from March 2020 to June 2021 within a PrEP open cohort of about 3,000 people. Results show an 8.2% reduction in weekly initiation appointments versus 2019 and identify sexual behaviour, STI history, and drug use during sex as factors associated with both uptake and dosing strategy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Objective

Methods

Data collection period and analyses

Results

Appointments and patient profile

Factors influencing PrEP uptake and dosing

Conclusion

References

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis initiation behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic Maximilian Schaefer – McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada | Background | | --- | | • HIV/AIDS remains an important epidemic especially among key populations, e.g., gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), people who inject drugs, and partners of untreated HIV-positive persons. [1]
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for seronegative individuals reduces the risk of infection with HIV by up to 99% . [1, 2]
• Social distancing rules during the Covid-19 pandemic led to decreased PrEP use and decreased casual sexual activities during lockdown periods, however this was not reduced to zero. [3-5] | | Objective | | --- | | Using data from a large sexual health clinic in Montreal, Canada (Clinique L’Actuel), this project aimed to report on the uptake of PrEP during the Covid-19 pandemic. | | Methods | | --- | | • Clinique L’Actuel hosts an open cohort of
3,000 persons who use PrEP. Data collection is integrated into the PrEP care provided at L’Actuel and done through questionnaires (filled by patients and medical staff) . [6]
• Data were collected between March 2020 and
June 2021. Three descriptive analyses of the data were conducted: one overall profile of patients soliciting PrEP, and two subset analyses: (1) whether they initiated PrEP, and (2) what dosing strategy was chosen. | | Results | | --- | | The average of initial PrEP appointments per week was 8.8, an 8.2% reduction in appointments compared to the 2019 average. 263 patients were included in the overall descriptive analysis of patients soliciting PrEP. Mean age was 37 years (range: 18 to 73) . 25% of patients were younger than 27 years. Most patients are cis gbMSM.
Did patients start PrEP?
• Reporting insertive anal sex in the last 12 months showed 59% lower odds (OR: 0.413,

Did not
start PrEP;
70; 35%
Started PrEP; 131; 65%
95% CI: (0.152, 1.011), p-value: 0.037) of starting PrEP. Report of receptive anal sex in the last 12 months did not influence this.
• Patients who did not start PrEP were more likely to report previous gonorrhea or chlamydia in their lifetime.
• Among patients who reported drug use during sex in the last 12 months, there was a lower proportion of patients who started PrEP (62% of those who reported drug use during sex started PrEP vs. 75% of those who did not report drug use during sex) .
• On-demand patients were slightly older (median [IQR]: 36 [32, 44] years vs. 34 [27, 44] years for daily PrEP) .
• Patients who reported previous syphilis in their lifetime had 161% higher odds (OR: 2.609, 95% CI: (0.827, 8.669), p-value: 0.063) of being prescribed daily PrEP.
• Patients prescribed daily PrEP were more likely to report use of alcohol during sex in the last 12 months (94% daily vs. 83% on-demand) .
• Patients prescribed on-demand PrEP reported higher condom use in the last
12 months (median: 100% for ondemand PrEP vs. 75% for daily PrEP) .
Dosing Regimen

Daily
On-demand Refused | | Conclusion | | --- | | • There appears to have been a need for PrEP during the pandemic despite calls for social distancing. The 8.2% reduction in PrEP initiation appointments at the clinic fits into the narrative of the literature.
• Lifetime history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual behaviour, and drug use during sex in the 12 months prior to initial PrEP appointment appeared to influence both actual PrEP uptake, and dosing strategy.
• As the PrEP cohort at Clinique L’Actuel is still ongoing, further research could be conducted along different time frames, with regards to drug use during sex (chemsex), or regarding possible reasons behind patients’ intentions to initiate PrEP during the Covid-19 pandemic. | | References | | --- | | 1. Tan DHS, Hull MW, Yoong D, Tremblay C, O'Byrne P, Thomas R, Kille J, Baril JG, Cox J, Giguere P, Harris M, Hughes C, MacPherson P, O

FAQs

What was the main objective of the project?

To report uptake of PrEP during the Covid-19 pandemic using data from a large sexual health clinic in Montreal (Clinique L’Actuel).

How was the data collected and what analyses were performed?

Data were collected from March 2020 to June 2021 through questionnaires integrated into PrEP care. Three descriptive analyses were done: overall patient profile seeking PrEP, whether patients initiated PrEP, and what dosing strategy was chosen.

What were the key findings about PrEP initiation and dosing strategy?

Weekly initial PrEP appointments averaged 8.8, an 8.2% reduction compared with 2019. Sexual behaviour, lifetime STI history, and drug use during sex in the prior 12 months were associated with both actual PrEP uptake and the chosen dosing strategy.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Kurz