To expand use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), interventions to increase PrEP awareness, should encourage health care providers to discuss PrEP, destigmatize PrEP use, and promote racial/ethnic equity in PrEP access.

PrEP is a daily oral pill that reduces the risk for sexual acquisition of HIV by about 99% when taken daily as prescribed. Black men and Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) are significantly less likely than white MSM to have discussed PrEP with a health care provider. Increased use of PrEP would help reduce racial/ethnic disparities in HIV incidence rates among MSM and support the “U.S. Ending HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America” initiative. CDC analyzed data from more than 10,100 interviews with MSM at high risk for HIV in 23 U.S. cities. The analysis found white MSM (58%) were significantly more likely than Hispanic (44%) and Black (43%) MSM to have reported they discussed PrEP with a health care provider in the past year. A little more than half (55%) of the Black MSM who reported they discussed PrEP with their health care provider also reported they used PrEP, compared with about two-thirds of those who were Hispanic (62%) and who were white (68%). These findings highlight the critical need to address racial and ethnic disparities in PrEP awareness, PrEP discussions with health care providers, and PrEP use among MSM.

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