Interest in and Use of PrEP among MSM in Montreal - Characteristics of Early Adopters and Considerations for Expanded Use

Q: What data source and time frame were used to study PrEP interest and use among MSM in Montreal?

A survey was conducted between May 2016 and January 2017 among 1,028 MSM from the greater Montreal region, collecting information on knowledge, interest in, and use of risk reduction strategies.

Q: How aware were respondents of PrEP as an HIV risk-reduction strategy?

Most respondents (84%) were aware of PrEP and knew it could reduce HIV risk, and among those aware, 88% reported being very confident in its effectiveness.

Q: How did knowledge and confidence in PrEP differ across HIV status groups?

Those who did not know their HIV status were less likely to know about PrEP (72%) compared with HIV-negative (84%) and HIV-positive (91%) respondents. Confidence was also lower among the group with little or no interest and never used PrEP (82% versus higher levels in other groups).

Sep 27, 2026

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Study examining interest in and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Montreal, aiming to clarify how early adopters access prevention and what factors support expanded use. Data come from a May 2016–January 2017 survey of 1,028 MSM in the greater Montreal region, analyzing knowledge, confidence, and risk-reduction profiles using multinomial logistic regression. Results highlight awareness levels, primary information sources, confidence in PrEP effectiveness, and distinct characteristics across four PrEP interest/use groups, informing strategies to increase uptake.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Methods

Results

Knowledge and confidence in PrEP effectiveness

Characteristics by interest in and use of PrEP

Interest in and use of PrEP among MSM in Montreal: characteristics of early adopters and considerations for expanded use Frédérick Pronovost 1 , Joanne Otis2 , Ken Monteith3 , Thomas Haig2,3 , Alexandre Dumont-Blais 1 , Ludivine Veillette-Bourbeau2 , Jessica Caruso2 1. RÉZO (santé et mieux-être des hommes gais et bisexuels), Montréal, QC, 2. Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, 3. COCQ-SIDA, Montréal, QC BACKGROUND: PrEP constitutes an important new option to increase the effectiveness of combination prevention, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM) for whom options such as condoms may be less suited to their sexual lifestyles. Quebec has recommended the use of PrEP by MSM at risk for HIV and has covered its cost since 2013. Recent research on PrEP has shown that when used by itself, this prevention method can be as much as 86% effective in protecting against HIV 1 . With the endorsement of public health, many organizations in Montreal have begun to heavily promote this strategy to MSM. Yet despite community efforts and enthusiasm with respect to this this new prevention option, overall PrEP use remains low. To help reach UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 goal by 2030, the Mobilise! project has collected data to better understand how MSM in Montreal make use of various prevention options including PrEP. 1CATIE. (2017) . Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) . Retrieve from [http://www.catie.ca/en/fact-sheets/prevention/pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep](http://www.catie.ca/en/fact-sheets/prevention/pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep) [METHOD:](METHOD:) Between May 2016 and January 2017, 1028 MSM from the greater Montreal region responded to a survey that gathered data on knowledge, interest in, and use of risk reduction strategies. For HIV-negative and HIV-unknown respondents (n=761), a four-category dependent variable was created based on interest in using PrEP (yes or no) and ever having used it (yes or no): 1) little or no interest in using PrEP and have never used it (NI-NU); 2) little or no interest in using PrEP, but have already used it (NI-U); 3) interested in using PrEP but have never used it (I-NU); 4) interested in using PrEP and have already used it (I-U) (see figure 1) . Multinomial logistic regression was performed with independent variables that were significant at p<0.05 for bivariate analysis. RESULTS: Knowledge about and confidence in the effectiveness of PrEP use • Most respondents (84%) are aware of the existence of PrEP as a strategy that can reduce their risk of contracting HIV. • Respondents heard about PrEP mainly through friends or partners (56%), from health professionals (47%), and from community workers (17%) . • Compared to HIV-negative and HIV-positive respondents, those did not know their HIV status were less likely to know about this strategy (72% vs. 84% and 91%, p<0.0001) . • Among respondents who were aware of PrEP as a risk reduction strategy (84%), most (88%) were very confident about its effectiveness. RESPondEntS’ ChaRaCtERIStICS aCCoRdIng to IntERESt In and uSE oF PREP Respondents with little or no interest in using PrEP and who have never used it (NI-NU) are: In smaller proportion to • Be very confident about the effectiveness of PrEP (82% vs. 94%, 89%, 100% p<0 .00011) • Have had 6 sexual partners or more in the past year (40% vs. 83%, 51%, 85% p<0 .0001) • Have had an HIV-negative partner in the past year (66% vs. 88%, 72%, 91% p<0 .0001) • Have had an HIV-positive partner with a detectable viral load in the past year (4% vs. 15%, 5%, 14% p=0.001) • Be at-risk with respect to substance use (20% vs. 31%, 24%, 40% p=0.011) • Have had an HIV test in the past year (60% vs. 89%, 64%, 95% p<0 .0001) • Have had an STI in the past year (13% vs. 50%, 22%, 46% p<0 .0001) Respondents with little or no interest in using PrEP but who have already used it (NI-U) are: In larger proportion to • Have a university degree (77% vs. 62%, 50%, 64% p=0.004)

FAQs

What data source and time frame were used to study PrEP interest and use among MSM in Montreal?

A survey was conducted between May 2016 and January 2017 among 1,028 MSM from the greater Montreal region, collecting information on knowledge, interest in, and use of risk reduction strategies.

How aware were respondents of PrEP as an HIV risk-reduction strategy?

Most respondents (84%) were aware of PrEP and knew it could reduce HIV risk, and among those aware, 88% reported being very confident in its effectiveness.

How did knowledge and confidence in PrEP differ across HIV status groups?

Those who did not know their HIV status were less likely to know about PrEP (72%) compared with HIV-negative (84%) and HIV-positive (91%) respondents. Confidence was also lower among the group with little or no interest and never used PrEP (82% versus higher levels in other groups).

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Aldword