Abstract
Background
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Miami-Dade County has the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in the Nation. So far, a large focus of public health initiatives has been spreading awareness of HIV testing locations, but this form of voluntary testing relies on individuals realizing that they are at risk of HIV infection in the first place. Consequently, a major obstacle to encouraging young men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM) to test themselves for HIV is their own self-perceived risk of having an undetected infection.
Methods
In an effort to better understand the discordance between high-risk sexual behavior and HIV testing among this high-risk population, YMSM (18–24) were surveyed through smartphone applications that facilitate sexual encounters in the Miami-Dade area (eg Grindr, Scruff). Users were asked about their history of condomless anal intercourse (CAI), their HIV testing habits, and whether or not they believe it possible that they are currently infected with HIV. An analysis of the relationship between CAI and self-perception of possible HIV infection was performed using Cochran-Mantel–Haenszel testing.
Results
Of the 843 eligible responses, 667 reported a history of voluntary HIV testing while 176 had never voluntarily tested. 726 respondents reported a history of CAI and 131 of these have never voluntarily tested. Of the 843 total participants, 1.6% were in the highest HIV risk group, which is those who have engaged in CAI with an exchange/casual partner, have never voluntarily tested for HIV, and have no self-perceived risk of being currently infected. According to data analysis, YMSM who have engaged in CAI but have never been tested for HIV were not more likely to have a self-perceived possibility of infection when compared with those who have voluntarily tested (P < 0.595).
Conclusion
This suggests that many high-risk YMSM are not voluntarily testing themselves for HIV not because they do not have access to testing, but rather because they do not perceive themselves as being possibly infected in the first place. Therefore, in addition to increasing access to HIV testing, new public health initiatives must be designed to facilitate YMSM understanding their own personal HIV risk.
Disclosures
All authors: No reported disclosures.
HIV Risk and Associations of HIV Infection among men who have sex with men in Peri-Urban Cape Town, South Africa