(P157) IMPROVEMENTS IN LINKAGE TO HIV PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHLAXIS (PREP) CARE AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF A SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC'S ONGOING PREP PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM EST

Primary Author(s)

Christine M. Borges, MPH

Director, Implementation and Evaluation
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – City of New York, New York, United States

Co-Author(s)(s)

GR

Gabrielle Rolling, MPH

Project Coordinator
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – City of New York
Jennifer Tang, MS (she/her/hers)

Data Analyst
NYC Health Department, United States
Preeti Pathela, DrPH, MPH (she/her/hers)

Executive Director - STI Programs
NYC Health Department
New York, New York, United States

Background:
The traditional model of HIV PrEP services at New York City’s public sexual health clinics (SHCs) includes same-day prescriptions and referrals for linkage to ongoing PrEP care at community providers. Low rates of linkage, particularly among young men, Latinx men, and uninsured patients had been observed. In 2022, we implemented an ongoing PrEP program in Corona SHC (the Corona Continuity PrEP Clinic [CPCC]). We compared PrEP linkage rates for the traditional model versus CPCC.

Methods:
Using medical record data, we compared linkage ‒ defined as presentation at either the community provider (for traditional model) or SHC (for CPCC) within 60 days of initiation ‒ for two cohorts: a) patients who received PrEP at CPCC (2022-2023) versus at the Corona SHC via the traditional model (2018-2019) , and b) patients who received PrEP at CPCC versus via the traditional model at all SHCs (December 2022-November 2023).

Results:
A total of 206 patients enrolled in CPCC over one year, a 62% increase from 127 at Corona SHC under the traditional model. The majority of CPCC patients were MSM (83%), Hispanic/Latinx (62%), < 30 years old (49%) and born outside the United States (72%). Linkage rates were higher among patients enrolled in CPCC compared with both the earlier time period at Corona SHC (68% vs 58%, p=0.03) and the same time period at all other SHCs (68% vs 45%, p<0.001). CPCC patients of all genders, ages, races, and ethnicity groups demonstrated increased uptake and higher linkage rates than those receiving PrEP through the traditional model.

Conclusion:
We observed increased rates of linkage among PrEP initiates after offering a continuity model, both overall and among key subgroups. SHCs are an ideal setting for ongoing PrEP care and can reduce barriers for patients, especially those who have historically been disenfranchised from the health care system.