Faculty Sponsor
Rachel P. Winograd, PhD
Final Abstract for URS Program
Authors: Sarah Boslaugh, Brandon Park, Rachel P. Winograd, PhD
Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe, approved, and effective medication for preventing HIV infection through sex or injection drug use. PrEP use should be compatible with recovery housing stay for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), but negative perceptions (stigma) of PrEP users endorsed by housing operators may obstruct PrEP use in these settings.
Methods: Between January and July 2024, a national sample of current recovery housing operators, owners, managers, etc. (N=145) completed online questionnaires including demographics; Community PrEP-related Stigma Scale (CPSS), which has four subscales (Stigma of Poor Judgment and Substance Use, Extreme Stigma, Stigma of Sexual Behavior, and Positive Community Perception); and a novel, manager-specific measure of stigma toward medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), another evidence-based intervention. Higher mean scores (range 1-7 for PrEP, 1-5 for MOUD) indicate greater stigma. Relationships among demographic variables, MOUD stigma, and PrEP stigma were examined using Spearman’s rho and one-way ANOVA.
Results: Overall PrEP stigma was moderate (M=2.7, SD=1.4), with Stigma of Sexual Behavior highest (M=3.3, SD =1.9), followed by Stigma of Poor Judgment and Substance Use (M=2.9, SD=1.6). Age, race, and house size were unrelated to PrEP stigma, but men (M=3.4, SD=1.3) reported higher PrEP stigma than women overall (M=2.3, SD=1.2) and on three subscales. MOUD stigma was significantly, positively associated with overall PrEP stigma (rho=0.3) and all subscales (rho range 0.4-0.2).
Conclusions: Intervention stigma toward PrEP and MOUD represents a prejudice against effective, approved medical treatments that obstructs HIV prevention and OUD treatment. Tailored education may be required to address differential PrEP stigma between men and women operators. Future research could investigate a potential “common factor” accounting for the significant correlation between PrEP stigma and MOUD stigma, motivating negative attitudes toward medical treatments associated with drug use and sexual behavior.
Presentation Type
Visual Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2025