The Government in the UK is aiming to reduce new transmission of HIV to zero by 2030. A corner stone of this is to increase the distribution and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis – also called PrEP.

PrEP is a combination medication which reduces has been shown to reduce the liklihood of transmission of HIV between sexual partners (1). However, some people are currently unaware that PrEP exists or that it might be availabel to someone like them.

Our research with young people demonstrates an ‘information vacuum’ about PrEP (2) which meant young people were unaware about where to access PrEP, how it worked or who it was for.

The young people we spoke to believed that PrEP was for ‘old, white, gay, men’ but in fact, PrEP can be used by anyone at risk of HIV transmission – this includes young people, people from non-White backgrounds, straight people, and women. Indeed other research (3) suggests that young straight, black women may be the most in need of PrEP and reflects the views of young people from this study.

However, the first step in helping people access PrEP is to increase awareness that PrEP exists and can be used by everyone. In 2022, researchers from Newcastle University took part in a public engagement event with young people which included a burlesque performance to about PrEP (4). Since then, there have been limited interventions to promote PrEP to young people.

Key targets for further research should explore insectional factors influence PrEP uptake, such as being young and straight and female and from a minority ethnic background.

To find out more about visit research.newcastle.ac.uk/prepnow