958 - Feasibility and Acceptability of HIV Self-Test Kit Distribution Through PrEP Clients’ Friendship and Sexual Networks

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Presenting Author(s)

Shuba Balan

Infectious Disease Fellow
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Co-Author(s)

KK

Katie Klose

Project Manager
University of Miami
Miami, FL
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
KK

Katherine King

Outreach Coordinator
University of Miami
Miami, Florida
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
MK

Mariano Kanamori

Assistant Professor
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
MM

Mara Michniewicz

Prevention program manager
Florida Health
Miami, Florida
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
ES

Emma Spencer

Surveillance Program Manager
Florida Dept of Health
Miami, Florida
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
SD

Susanne Doblecki-Lewis

Professor of Clinical Medicine
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida
Disclosure: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Background: Personal networks can influence behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, and values through contact and communication. The University of Miami Mobile PrEP Program offers low-barrier pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)/HIV prevention services through a mobile clinic in five highly impacted neighborhoods in Miami-Dade, the county with the highest HIV incidence in the US. The highest rates are among black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). The goal of this study is to understand the acceptability and feasibility of expanding the reach of testing through our clients’ friendship and sexual networks.

Methods: This study was implemented in five locations across Miami from December 2019 to February 2020. During scheduled PrEP quarterly follow-up clinic visits, participants were offered Ora-Quick oral fluid self test (ST) kits, free of cost for distribution to up to four sexual partners and/or friends. In addition to the information available in the testing kit, brief training regarding the test and resources for post-test engagement were provided. A survey evaluated participants’ distribution plan, comfort level and concerns in offering the test kits to friends/sexual partners. Descriptive statistics included frequencies for categorical variables, and means and ranges for continuous variables.

Results: A total of 84 participants were offered the ST kits, of which 49 (58%) accepted. Of those accepting kits, 40 (81.63%) of 49 were Latino MSM. Participants requested an average of 3 (mean=2.9, range 1-4) kits, for a total of 144 kits. Overall, 41(84%) felt very comfortable and 47(96%) indicated they felt very comfortable offering this test to their friends/sexual partners. Also, 29(59.2%) planned to distribute kits only to friends, 2(4%) only to sexual partners, 11(22.4%) to both sexual partners and friends and 7(14.2%) to either family or self-test to provide ‘moral support’ to those taking the test. None of the participants expressed any concerns about offering kits to friends or sexual partners.

Conclusion: Distribution of home based self-test HIV kits through current Mobile PrEP clients’ friendship and sexual networks is acceptable and feasible. Similar social network strategies may be considered to expand reach of HIV testing and PrEP engagement to those with barriers to care.