Young adult women and correlates of potential adoption of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): results of a national survey.

We examine potential use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among young adult women, based on nationally representative random-digit dial telephone household survey of 1,453 US African-American and white women. The hypotheses were generated based on Health Belief Model. Our analyses showed that, as compared to women of 30-45 years old, young women of 20-29 years old experienced stronger social influences on PrEP uptake. However, as compared to older women, young women did not report higher potential PrEP uptake or adherence, despite their greater risk of HIV. For PrEP to be an effective method of prevention for young adult women, interventions are needed to increase HIV risk awareness.