(P156) FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE HIV PREP UPTAKE AND KNOWLEDGE USING STI SURVEILLANCE DATA IN ALAMEDA COUNTY

Background:
Persons with recent STIs, including early syphilis and rectal gonorrhea, are at higher risk of HIV acquisition and could benefit from HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This evaluation aims to assess PrEP knowledge and interest among persons recently diagnosed with an STI in Alameda County.

Methods:
From November 2022 to August 2023, as routine practice we assessed California’s disease management system (CalREDIE), to identify persons with early syphilis and/or rectal gonorrhea. Persons taking PrEP or living with HIV were excluded. Eligible persons were contacted via phone, asked about PrEP knowledge, and educated on PrEP, DoxyPEP, and self-testing resources through TakeMeHome.org. Clients were offered OraQuick® In-Home HIV Tests and referred to providers if interested.

Results:
Among 106 persons with rectal gonorrhea or early syphilis, 65 (61.3%) were eligible for PrEP counseling and 21 (19.8%) were subsequently reached via phone. Of those spoken with, 19 (90.5%) identified as male, 15 (71.4%) identified as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and 17 (81.0%) were under age 39 years. Ten of these 21 clients received PrEP counseling due to insufficient knowledge. The majority 7 (70.0%) of clients who received PrEP counseling had limited familiarity with PrEP, having heard of it but lacking specific knowledge. Additionally, 3 (30.0%) had no familiarity or confused it with antiretroviral therapy.

As a result of these 21 conversations, 2 clients ordered tests through TakeMeHome, 2 ordered OraQuick® tests, 1 was referred to a DoxyPEP provider, and 4 were referred to PrEP providers.

Conclusion:
Almost half of those we reached who are at high risk for HIV infection had limited to no knowledge of PrEP. Our findings indicate that public health investigators could use surveillance data to identify individuals at high risk of HIV acquisition, engage with them proactively to enhance their PrEP knowledge, and facilitate connections to PrEP and other sexual health services.