Factors Associated with Low Levels of HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Brazil

Background Increasing the frequency of HIV testing is crucial for effective HIV prevention and care. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there has been a change in HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) at the South Australia Specialist Sexual Health (SASSH) clinic over the past two decades. Methods: Computerised medical records of MSM who attended the SASSH at their first visit between 1994 and 2015 were used to determine whether HIV testing had changed among MSM. First HIV tests in each calendar year and return tests within 12 months were analysed. Factors associated with recent HIV testing were also examined. Results: There were 24 036 HIV tests conducted among 8163 individual MSM over the study period. The proportion of newly registered MSM who reported ever being tested for HIV declined (Ptrend = 0.030), the proportion who reported recent HIV testing did not change (Ptrend = 0.955) and the proportion who have had current HIV testing increased (Ptrend = 0.008). The proportion of MSM who returned to the clinic for HIV testing within 12 months did not change (Ptrend >0.05), with less than 40% of MSM returning for HIV testing. Factors independently associated with recent HIV testing included MSM aged ≥20 years, (odds ratio (OR) 1.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.53–2.10), higher education (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.12–1.45), non-Caucasian (African OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.30–2.17), having multiple sex partners (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.29–1.69), having had sex interstate (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.42–1.82) or overseas (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.33–1.76) and injecting drug use (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.29–1.88). Conclusions: HIV testing rate among MSM attending SASSH was suboptimal. New approaches are needed to increase the uptake and early detection of HIV infection among the high-priority MSM population.

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Factors associated with recent HIV testing among high-risk men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study in Cambodia

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-015-2096-4 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Siyan Yi ◽

Sovannary Tuot ◽

Pheak Chhoun ◽

Carinne Brody ◽

Khuondyla Pal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Sex With Men

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Prevalence and Factors Associated With HIV Self-testing Uptake Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Ningbo, China: A Cross-sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-76060/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hang Hong ◽

Hong-bo Shi ◽

Hai-bo Jiang ◽

Hong-jun Dong ◽

Yun-liang Shen

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sexual Contact ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

The Past ◽

Self Testing ◽

Sex With Men

Abstract BackgroundHIV testing and early linkage to care are critical for reducing the risk of HIV transmission. HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an useful tool for increasing HIV testing frequency.This study aimed to investigate HIVST rates among men who have sex with men (MSM), the characteristics of MSM who had HIVST, and factors associated with HIVST uptake among MSM in Ningbo, China. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from April to October 2019 in Ningbo,China. Participants were aged at least 18 years and having had sexual contact with men in the past year. Proportions were used for categorical variables. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) for characteristics associated with HIVST uptake was processed by multiple logistic regression models.ResultsAmong a sample of 699 MSM recruited, 38.2% had reported previous use of an HIV self-test kit. A greater proportion of HIVST Users had a higher frequency of HIV testing(≥2 times: 70.0% versus 41.2%, p<0.001) in the past one year. Factor associated with HIVST uptake was gay apps use(AOR=1.86,CI=1.13-3.05), multiple male sex partners (AOR=1.90,CI=1.29-2.80), frequency of male-male sexual contact ≥1 times per week(AOR=1.86, CI=1.30-2.66), syphilis infection(AOR=5.48, CI=2.53-11.88).ConclusionsFurther HIVST education should be strengthened for school-aged children and teenagers, and free HIVST kits may be provided to low-income high-risk MSM through gay apps and NGOs to achieve the increased HIV testing frequency.

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Factors associated with past HIV testing among men who have sex with men attending university in China: a cross-sectional study*

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh20088 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rongyi Ye ◽

Chunfang Liu ◽

Shengkui Tan ◽

Juntong Li ◽

Jane M. Simoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Sex With Men

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Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV testing utilization among men who have sex with men in China: a cross-sectional online survey (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.30070 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ke Chun Zhang ◽

Yuan Fang ◽

He Cao ◽

Hongbiao Chen ◽

Tian Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Online Survey ◽

Service Providers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Testing Service ◽

Initial Control ◽

Testing Uptake ◽

Sex With Men

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic creates disruptions on HIV prevention and sexual health services for men who have sex with men (MSM). OBJECTIVE This study compared HIV testing utilization in three different reference periods (i.e., before COVID-19 outbreak, after the outbreak, and after the pandemic was under initial control). Factors associated with HIV testing utilization after COVID-19 outbreak were also investigated. METHODS Participants were Chinese-speaking MSM aged ≥18 years living in Shenzhen, China. Those self-reported as HIV positive were excluded. A total of 595 participants recruited through multiple sources completed a self-administered online survey during August to September 2020. HIV testing uptake between February and July 2020 was the dependent variable, and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted. RESULTS About half of the participants reported any HIV testing uptake between February and July 2020 (n=331, 55.6%). As compared to the time before COVID-19 outbreak (November 2019 to January 2020), HIV testing uptake was significantly lower during February and April 2020 (44.0% versus 61.0%, p<.001). However, HIV testing uptake did not increase significantly after the pandemic was under initial control (May to July 2020) (46.6% versus 44.0%, p=.21). After adjusting for significant background characteristics, factors associated with higher HIV testing uptake between February and July 2020 included: 1) HIV testing uptake prior to COVID-19 outbreak (AOR: 10.75, 95%CI: 7.22, 16.02, p<.001), 2) use of sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing (AOR: 7.02, 95%CI: 4.10, 12.02, p<.001), other HIV/STI prevention (AOR: 3.15, 95%CI: 2.16, 4.60, p<.001) and PrEP (AOR: 3.58, 95%CI: 1.54, 8.34, p=.002) between February and July 2020, 3) CAI with RP (AOR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.34, 3.13, p=.001) and NRP (AOR: 2.49, 95%CI: 1.39, 4.47, p=.002), and SDU (AOR: 2.72, 95%CI: 1.50, 4.94, p=.001) between February and July 2020, 4) perceived risk of HIV infection at present was higher than the time before COVID-19 outbreak (AOR: 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.30, p=.03), 5) perceived COVID-19 preventive measures taken up by HIV testing service providers to be effective (AOR: 1.52, 95%CI: 1.29, 1.78, p<.001), and 6) perceived higher behavioral control to take up HIV testing after COVID-19 outbreak (AOR: 1.18, 95%CI: 1.00, 1.40, p=.048). Concerns about COVID-19 infection during HIV testing (AOR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.68, 0.89, p<.001), avoiding crowed places (AOR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.98, p=0.04) and HIV testing service providers reduced their working hours (AOR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.98, p=0.046) were negatively associated with the dependent variable. CONCLUSIONS HIV testing utilization among Chinese MSM declined after COVID-19 outbreak and did not increase after the pandemic received initial control. Removing structural barriers to access HIV testing caused by COVID-19, modifying perceptions related to HIV testing, and making use of HIV self-testing might be useful strategies to improve HIV testing among MSM during the pandemic.

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Factors Associated with Recent HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Philadelphia: a Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Behavioral Surveillance System Survey

AIDS Care ◽

10.1080/09540121.2018.1533228 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 230-237

Author(s):

Katherine Frasca ◽

Tanner Nassau ◽

Carol McLaughlin ◽

Kathleen A. Brady

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Surveillance System ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Behavioral Surveillance ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Sectional Analysis

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HIV Testing and Risks of Sexual Behavior among HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ningbo, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17041322 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 1322 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Haibo Jiang ◽

Hang Hong ◽

Hongjun Dong ◽

Jun Jiang ◽

Lin He

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Preventive Strategy ◽

High Risk Behaviors ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv Negative

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is confirmed as a preventive strategy for HIV control. However, the testing rate and risk behaviors of HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) remain unclear. We aimed to examine factors associated with HIV testing and high-risk behaviors among HIV-negative MSM. From July 2016 to June 2017, participants were recruited by snowball sampling from WeChat groups, bars, and other venues. HIV testing was performed to exclude HIV-positive MSM. Face-to-face questionnaires regarding HIV testing and high-risk behaviors were conducted; 988 MSM were included, and 57.1% of participants underwent HIV testing in the past year. The proportion of high-risk behaviors was 49.9%. Factors associated with HIV testing were bisexual orientation, substance use to adjust psychiatric disorders, and receiving acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) interventions. Being married, bisexual orientation, and receiving AIDS interventions were risk factors for high-risk sexual behaviors, while college or higher degree was a protective factor. We determined that HIV transmission factors are widespread, and the rate of HIV testing is relatively low. Attention should be given to marital status, using substances to adjust psychiatric disorders, or bisexual HIV-negative MSM, and AIDS interventions should be strengthened to promote HIV testing and reduce high-risk behaviors.

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