HIV policy formation and prevention: driving the decision for an implementation of publicly funded pre-exposure prophylaxis in Scotland
UofG research contributed essential data and understanding needed by Scottish policymakers to plan and fund pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.
The research
Professor Lisa McDaid has led the Gay Men’s Sexual Health (GMSH) survey since 1996 to investigate the sexual behaviours, prevention and testing activities of gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in Scotland and the UK. The most recent GMSH survey provided updated data on awareness and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – a drug that reduces HIV infection in HIV-negative men by 99% when used daily. The UofG-led research revealed that a significant percentage of gbMSM fall short of current national guidelines on frequency of HIV testing.
UofG-led ‘HIV and the Biomedical’ study was the first mixed methods study to consider awareness and acceptability of HIV prevention and PrEP among the communities most affected by HIV in the UK. McDaid’s research revealed that factors such as risk, patterns of sexual practice and social relationships could all affect motivation for use of PrEP. McDaid’s research highlights the importance of understanding how prevention is incorporated into current practices to optimise future intervention delivery. The ‘Developing HIV Literacy’ project built on the ‘HIV and the Biomedical’ study, with particular focus around how stigma and homophobia shapes consumption of HIV-related knowledge.
The impact
There are currently 101,600 people living with HIV in the UK, with 5,484 in Scotland. Despite major advances in treatment and availability of testing, HIV still has a major impact on individual health, the healthcare system and the economy. Professor McDaid’s research has produced a prevention tool that could significantly reduce HIV transmissions. The research provided key data and understanding on social and behavioural aspects of PrEP and HIV.
UofG-led research has been instrumental in underpinning policy decisions that led to the introduction of PrEP in Scotland. It also underpinned the production of a PrEP literacy tool, which has enhanced the communications campaign to support HIV PrEP implementation. The behavioural data captured in the UofG led-GMSH survey over the last two decades has ensured that the issue of HIV prevention remained a high-profile matter of urgency for the government to address.