What is it about?
This qualitative study explored the culture of PrEP adoption and evolving concepts of ‘safe sex’ in Sydney, Australia, during a period of rapidly escalating access. It draws on interviews with sexually active gay men and interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders. The key finding is that norms of 'safe sex' have dramatically changed, and that thereis a risk of excluding the minority of men who still opt to use condoms as their preferred mode of HIV prevention.
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Why is it important?
This study is important for health promotion, and it emphasises the need to foster inclusive community norms, that recognise that different people may favour different approaches to HIV prevention.
Perspectives
This paper provides an important historical context for safe sex culture. It also demonstrates how constructing PrEP as a rigid new standard to which gay men ‘should’ adhere can alienate some men and potentially create community divisions. Instead, we recommend promoting choice from a range of HIV prevention options that have both high efficacy and high acceptability.
Dr Bridget Gabrielle Haire
University of New South Wales
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: What does PrEP mean for ‘safe sex’ norms? A qualitative study, PLoS ONE, August 2021, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255731.
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