CHSU Discovery

Abstract

The HIV/AIDS epidemic that started in the late 1980s continues to burden millions worldwide every year. The US Preventive Services task force estimates over 1 million Americans are currently living with HIV. The World Health Organization first recommended pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as an effective oral medication to prevent new HIV infections for high risk groups in 2012.2 The United States Food and Drug Administration approved its use the same year. Despite that expansion of eligibility criteria and the long-proven effectiveness of PrEP, the prescription rate for this medication remains low nationwide. A study suggested that only 10% of the population indicated for PrEP utilized this preventative measure as of 2018. This study investigates healthcare providers’ attitudes, concerns, perceptions, and gaps in knowledge of PreP prescribing criteria that contribute to low rates of PrEP access for those considered at high risk for HIV/AIDS in the Central Valley compared to other areas in California.