Awareness effectiveness of HIV treatment as prevention (TasP) among men who have sex with men - results from the survey Rapport au Sexe, France, 2021. (S..ropositivit.. au VIH: diagnostic, pr..vention et v..cu au temps de la Covid-19.) [French]

ABSTRACT

More than a decade ago, the preventive effect of antiretroviral treatment against HIV (TasP) was scientifically demonstrated an HIV-positive person under treatment with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus. This article aims to assess the level of knowledge about TasP among men who have sex with men (MSM), to describe the men's characteristics according to their declared HIV status and to identify the factors associated with their knowledge. The data source is the survey Rapport au Sexe (ERAS) 2021 a cross-sectional, anonymous, voluntary and self-administered online survey. Among the 14,706 respondents included in the analysis, who were residing in France and had engaged in sexual intercourse with a man at least once in their lifetime, 60.5% were aware of TasP, 92.4% among HIV-positive MSM and 58.2% among HIV-negative MSM or those who did not know their HIV status. Logistic regressions show that, to different extents depending on the respondent's HIV status, a low level of education, a financial situation perceived as difficult, a low level of health literacy and not defining oneself as homosexual were factors associated with less knowledge. Conversely, living in an urban area, frequenting the gay community, or attending HIV care services were positively associated to TasP knowledge. The continuation of public awareness campaigns around TasP is essential, whether administered through associations, the gay community, via health initiatives or the mass media, in order to improve knowledge about HIV and reduce HIV-related stigma.