Prevalence of prior HIV testing and associated factors among MSM in Zhejiang Province, China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) have become one of high-risk population for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, due to their multiple sex partners and unprotected anal intercourse. Promoting HIV testing is an effective strategy for the prevention and control of HIV infection. We assessed the factors associated with a prior HIV testing history, which could provide guidance for implementation of future HIV intervention programs.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in three cities of Zhejiang Province, namely, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Wenzhou, using respondent-driven sampling, between December 2013 and June 2014. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was employed to collect relevant information about HIV testing. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with a prior HIV testing history.ResultsThe adjusted rate of prior HIV testing among MSM in Zhejiang Province was 55.9 %. The adjusted rates of HIV and syphilis infections among MSM in Zhejiang Province were 14.0 % and 11.4 %, respectively. A weighted multivariate analysis showed that MSM of older age were more likely to be tested, as were MSM with higher level of education, self-reported homosexuality and a higher frequency of receiving AIDS/sexually transmitted infections educational intervention in the past year. MSM with suicidal inclination and self-perceived lower possibility of HIV infection were less likely to report ever having undergone an HIV test.ConclusionsThe prevalence of prior HIV testing among MSM in Zhejiang Province, China is low. Effective and more frequent interventional measures should be adopted to improve risk awareness and psychosocial support for younger, less educated MSM, and to encourage more MSM to undergo HIV testing.

Factors associated with HIV testing among young men who have sex with men in Myanmar: a cross‐sectional study

“…We found that having good HIV‐related knowledge and particularly, having access to and use of health‐related services was strongly associated with prior HIV testing among YMSM in Myanmar. This finding corroborates with earlier evidence, from studies conducted in other LMICs, that MSM who have access to HIV education and service programmes were more likely to have tested for HIV in a lifetime and in the past 6 months , and that having good knowledge on HIV transmission, prevention and treatment was positively associated with HIV testing practice . However, this should be interpreted with care given that the direction of this association is unknown.…”

“…Therefore, young people of key populations are less likely to have access to and use of HIV services compared to their peers in the general population. Existing evidence suggested that young FSWs, PWIDs and MSM were also less likely to have ever tested for HIV or have tested less frequently compared to their peers of older age . These studies finding indicated that a sustained focus on HIV research, policy and intervention for adolescent and young key populations is required if the goal of ending the global HIV epidemic is to be achieved .…”

Human immunodeficiency virus‐infected young people in Australia: data from the Australian HIV Observational Database

“…This is comparable to the United States where in MSM aged 18–24 surveyed in 2008, 66.8% reported having a HIV test in last 12 months . In another 2014 study, from Zhejiang province in China, 61.9% of youths less than 25 years who identified as having had male partners had had a HIV test previously . In our young cohort, there was also a significantly higher CD4 count at diagnosis which may be explained by higher CD4 counts seen in healthy, HIV‐uninfected, children and young adolescents .…”

“…24 In another 2014 study, from Zhejiang province in China, 61.9% of youths less than 25 years who identified as having had male partners had had a HIV test previously. 25 In our young cohort, there was also a significantly higher CD4 count at diagnosis which may be explained by higher CD4 counts seen in healthy, HIV-uninfected, children and young adolescents. 26,27 The median age of our older adult cohort was 37 years, therefore immunosenescence and weaker immunological response in that group seems unlikely.…”

Online-to-offline models in HIV service delivery

“…The model helps address inaccurate/low HIV risk perceptions, a critical factor behind late diagnosis [51, 67, 68]. Although, highly responsive to WHO’s global call for demand creation [69], the model is resource intensive on the supply side.…”