The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the launch of a campaign to combat the spread of HIV throughout the state on Jan. 16. The initiative, called MIPrEP, MIChoice, aims to educate Michigan residents about pre-exposure prophylaxis. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, is a preventative prescription medication recommended for people who are currently HIV-negative and engaged in high-risk activities such as unprotected sex or injection drug use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2021 that Michigan had more than 630 new HIV cases, making Michigan the state with the 17th highest number of new diagnoses in the United States. Michigan was also ranked 41st in the country for PrEP coverage, with 20% of the population covered by PrEP.
In a press release, Natasha Bagdasarian, the state of Michigan’s chief medical executive, said it is important to take preventative medication like PrEP.
“Taking PrEP can reduce the chances of getting HIV by up to 99% for sexual encounters and 74% for injection drug use,” Bagdasarian said.
The campaign highlights nine Michigan residents who spoke about why they chose to take PrEP. The campaign also provides resources on the medication, including resources on how to find a medical provider to get a prescription and how PrEP works to prevent HIV.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, K. Rivet Amico, associate public health professor, discussed the importance of HIV education and the efficacy of Michigan’s public health communication.
“If you look at what’s happening to our overall rates of HIV acquisition, we’re really doing well, and a lot of people attribute that to the availability of PrEP and the availability of effective treatment,” Amico said. “Any campaign, media or program you’re rolling out absolutely needs to speak to populations that would benefit the most from it. I do think that Michigan’s campaign proceeded carefully and with interaction with the community.”
Amico discussed the challenges HIV patients have historically faced and how the campaign is taking these issues into account and addressing them.
“One of the hurdles in Michigan has been making sure that there are sufficient providers and culturally humble providers, particularly,” Amico said. “Helping people to be able to afford (PrEP) consistently and without interruption is the other piece that will be challenging. We know that HIV disproportionately impacts folks that have a number of structural and societally determined barriers.”
HIV prevention services and resources have received criticism in recent years from federal courts and state lawmakers across the U.S. In January 2023, Tennessee rejected federal grants for HIV and AIDS programs.
Public Health graduate student Jonathan Amos told The Daily that cases like the one in Tennessee make him concerned about the future of HIV prevention services in Michigan.
“I think these political battles around PrEP and around HIV funding … as we’re seeing in the House right now, are pretty disturbing and are potentially a future barrier for access,” Amos said.
Public Health graduate student Zach Farrell underscored the U-M community’s role in initiating and disseminating information regarding HIV.
“Academia is the place where it starts,” Farrell said. “We have to educate people so they can go on to educate others about it, which goes back to the public health practice and working with the community.”
Farrell said he believes it is important for college students to be involved in public health initiatives.
“Reach out to your local health department or the state and ask questions, volunteer and advocate,” Farrell said.
Daily Staff Reporter Shane Baum can be reached at smbaum@umich.edu.