Young people face significant barriers to PrEP, including a lack of comprehensive sex education and sexual health services.

For example, in 2021, only 56% of young people (ages 13-24) with HIV knew their HIV status. According to 2020 CDC data, HIV stigma is the highest among young people (ages 18-24) compared to any other age group.

• 64% of all PrEP users in 2023 were between ages 25 and 44 years old.
• Teenagers and young adults (aged 13-24 years) had the greatest unmet need for PrEP among all age groups, with a PrEP-to-Need Ratio (PNR) of 9. That means that for every person in that age group diagnosed with HIV, there were only 9 people using PrEP. People aged 35 to 44 had the highest PNR of 17.