Perceived Risk Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Serodiscordant Couples in East Africa Taking Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract

Objectives: Perceived risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is thought to drive low adherence in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) trials. We explored the level of perceived risk of incident HIV infection in the Partners PrEP Study, in which adherence was generally high.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire assessed perceived risk of HIV at 12 months after enrollment. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between perceived risk and other demographic and behavioral variables.

Results: Three thousand two hundred twenty-six couples from the Partners PrEP Study were included in this analysis. Only 15.4% of participants reported high or moderate perceived risk. Participants at high risk of acquiring HIV were slightly more likely to report high perceived risk (odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.95; P < 0.001); nevertheless, only 20% of participants with high-risk reported high perceived risk.

Conclusions: Participants reported low perceived risk of HIV but were adherent to PrEP. Perceptions of risk are likely socially determined and more complex than Likert scale questionnaires capture.

Figures

Figure I

Perceived Risk (Seronegative Partner) According to Calculated Risk Score