Recreational Use of HIV Antiretroviral Medication and Implications for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Treatment.

Journal: AIDS and behavior

Volume: 24

Issue: 9

Year of Publication: 2020

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, , USA. Caroline_Kuo@brown.edu. Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, , USA. Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Columbia Law School, New York, NY, USA. Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa. South African Medical Research Council Health Systems Unit, Cape Town, South Africa. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.

Abstract summary 

Diversion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for recreational use is concerning for countries with high HIV prevalence. This paper presents reports of recreational use of ART among adolescents from two HIV prevention studies in South Africa: (1) a cross-sectional survey of N = 200 adolescents and (2) a qualitative study of pre-exposure prophylaxis with N = 57 adolescents and N = 25 clinicians. Among adolescents, 3% used and 14% knew someone who used non-prescribed ART for recreational purposes. Administration included smoking (71%), snorting (15%), injecting (15%), ingesting (15%), and inserting (3%). Participants predicted increased crime as recreational use of ART increased. Future studies should investigate prevalence, composition, and diversion of ART from HIV prevention and treatment.

Authors & Co-authors:  Kuo Caroline C Giovenco Danielle D DeAtley Teresa T Hoare Jackie J Underhill Kristen K Atujuna Millicent M Mathews Catherine C Stein Dan J DJ Brown Larry K LK Operario Don D

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Shisana O, Rehle T, LC S, Zuma K, Jooste S, N Z, et al. South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey, 2017. Cape Town: HSRC Press; 2018.
Authors :  10
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1007/s10461-020-02821-5
SSN : 1573-3254
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
Antiretroviral medication;HIV;Medication diversion;Nyaope;South Africa;Whoonga
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Country of Study
South Africa
Publication Country
United States