How PrEPared is our campus? Insights from a cross-sectional study on awareness and attitudes towards HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) amongst University of Saskatchewan (Canada) students

BACKGROUND: The number of new HIV infections in young adults is increasing in Canada. Research is lacking on the awareness and acceptability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) amongst Canadian university students. We conducted this study to assess awareness and attitudes towards PrEP amongst University of Saskatchewan students. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey was sent to 22,004 actively enrolled university students. The survey explored students’ perceived risk of HIV, awareness of PrEP, and attitudes towards PrEP use. Statistical analyses were performed on all completed responses and the following subgroups: visible minorities, Indigenous women, gay men and bisexual men to assess differences in attitudes amongst groups. RESULTS: 3,005 complete responses were included in data analysis. Respondents were predominantly undergraduate students (79%), 28 years old or younger, female (66%), heterosexual (77%) and Caucasian (63%). Only 30% had heard of PrEP prior to the survey and 3% had used it. 84% were comfortable accessing PrEP on campus. Only 34% were likely to talk to their health care provider about PrEP and 30% were likely to take PrEP. However, 94% were willing to take PrEP if recommended by their health care provider. 68% were likely to recommend PrEP to others. In contrast, 94% of gay men were aware of PrEP, 35% had taken it, 73% were likely to talk to their health care provider about it, 69% were likely to take it and 83% were likely to recommend it to others. CONCLUSIONS: PrEP awareness was low in our study cohort with the exception of gay men. Willingness to use PrEP was also low but increased on the recommendation of health care provider. Comfort in accessing PrEP at campus health center was also high. Results from this survey could inform strategies for scaling up PrEP uptake on campus.