Responding to the HIV Health Literacy Needs of Clients in Substance Use Treatment: The Role of Universal PrEP Education in HIV Health and Prevention

Yusen Zhai (), Kyesha M. Isadore, Lauren Parker and Jeremy Sandberg
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Yusen Zhai: Department of Human Studies, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Kyesha M. Isadore: Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Lauren Parker: Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, Special Education, College of Education, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Jeremy Sandberg: Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, Special Education, College of Education, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: Health literacy, particularly HIV health literacy, is a key social determinant of health and can be significantly improved through targeted health education. This paper explores the often-overlooked potential of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) education as a powerful tool to enhance HIV health literacy among people with substance use disorders (PWSUD), a population notably susceptible to HIV. Given the syndemic interplay of substance use disorders (SUDs) and HIV, health professionals, especially substance use counselors, are uniquely positioned to bolster HIV health literacy and positively influence health outcomes. This article offers a brief introduction to PrEP, delineates potential barriers and facilitators to its use and education, and proposes strategies for effective PrEP education, implementation, and adherence. By equipping substance use counselors with essential knowledge and skills, we aim to encourage and promote the integration of PrEP education into substance use treatment. The overarching objective is to empower counselors to proactively engage in HIV prevention efforts, thereby fulfilling pressing health literacy needs and contributing to improved health outcomes among PWSUD.

Keywords: pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) education; PrEP health literacy; substance use disorders; HIV prevention; counselors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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