A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences Related to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Access Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men (YMSM) in Canada

• Author / Creator

  Tovillo, Jose Benito M.

• Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Canada and globally are disproportionately impacted by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective strategy for reducing transmission and acquisition of HIV infection among high-risk populations, including YMSM. However, there is a limited number of studies exploring YMSM’s PrEP access experiences and the different social, structural, behavioural, and clinical factors that influence their PrEP access and use. The purpose of this narrative inquiry study is to explore and understand the experiences of Canadian YMSM in relation to their PrEP access. In this research, I worked collaboratively with three Canadian YMSM between the ages of 21 and 24 over 24 months. With relational ethics at the center, the participants and I engaged in multiple conversations in person and virtually and collected field texts that provided insights into their experiences across time, places, and social contexts. The intensive and long-term researcher- participant relationships allowed us to co-compose narrative accounts that reflected the participants’ unique experiences, especially those that shaped their overall PrEP access. Through the continuous telling and retelling of the participants’ stories and by reflecting on and laying their narrative accounts side by side, I identified resonant threads that highlighted their experiences of accessing PrEP in relation to and in the contexts of identity-making and social responsibility. This narrative inquiry research provided new understandings and knowledge of Canadian YMSM’s PrEP access experiences. The new knowledge from this research can be utilized to inform PrEP programs, research, education, policies, and practice guidelines that will improve PrEP access and help decrease the rate of new HIV infections among Canadian YMSM.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • pre-exposure prophylaxis
  • PrEP
  • access
  • young men who have sex with men
  • YMSM
  • HIV
  • narrative inquiry
  • Canada
  • experiences

• Graduation date

  Spring 2024

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-1xj1-hh67

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.