Acceptability of Doxy-PEP Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in New York City: Findings From the 2023 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Survey

In the United States, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) experience a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with notable racial/ethnic disparities. Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) has emerged as a promising strategy to prevent bacterial STIs. This study analyzed 2023 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance data to examine doxy-PEP awareness, use, and intent to use among MSM in New York City (NYC), in a predominantly Hispanic/Latino sample. Among 134 participants, awareness and prior use were low (38.8% and 9.0%, respectively), but intent to use was high (75.4%). In Poisson regression models, intent was higher among participants reporting non-injection drug use and 2–10 partners in the past 12 months, while marginally lower among those with lower incomes and recent migrants. Findings suggest doxy-PEP is acceptable for MSM in NYC, but addressing barriers among low-income groups and recent migrants is critical to reducing disparities.