HIV Testing And Its Associated Factors Among Venue-based Men Who Have Sex With Men

ObjectiveTo describe HIV test uptaking behavior and associated factors among men who have sexwith men (MSM) from different venues, and to understand their demands for HIVtestingMethodsA cross-sectional study combined with quantitative and qualitative methods wasconducted by MSM voulteers and the investigator. The quantitative study includedquestionnaire survey and intercept interview. Contents of the questionnaire includeddemographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, medical services seeking history, HIVtesting history, and HIV testing demands. For the intercept interview, gay bathroomclients were intercepted at the cashier desk continuesly and were asked by theinvestigators whether they have tested HIV before. The qualitative study was conductedamong MSM and staffs working in the HIV testing sites by indepth interview.Keywords were extracted and summarized from the interview recordings.ResultsA total of554MSM were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. The median age of therespondents was31years old (IQR:25-41). Majority of them were unmarried ordivorced, local province, Han ethnic group, been educated in high school or above, have1000-3000yuan income per month, homosexual oriented.Three hundred and seventy seven respondents (68.1%,95%CI:64.1-72.0) reported beingtested HIV before. According to univariate and multivariate logistics regression analysis,having friends with HIV testing history, being aware of HIV prevalence in local city, having received HIV intervention services in the past year and always using codomswhen having anal sex intercourse with regular male parteners were associated with highuptake of HIV testing. Local CDC, MSM CBOs and MSM venues were the mostfavourite testing sites.79.7%of respondents would like to buy rapid oral test kits,85.0%would like to have CHCT with their male sexual patners.The HIV test uptaking rate from the questionnaire an intercept survey in the bathhousewere68.0%(95%CI:61.4-74.6) and67.4%(95%CI:57.5-77.3) respecticely. Thedifference is not statistically significant.A total of30MSM and4HIV testing staffs were included in the qualitative study.Among them,22have been tested for HIV before, and the reasons of their first HIVtesting were worried about HIV infection, receiving out-reach testing services in gaybars or gay bathhouses by MSM CBOs, visiting hospital because of illness or havingphysical examination, being requested by friends/sexual partners or having friends whowere found HIV positive. For the other eight MSM, the reasons of not being testedbefore were not involving in unsafe sex, feeling healthy, concering of exposure ofpositive testing result or MSM identity. The motivations for furture HIV test weresetting up a relationship with new partners, or experiencing AIDS-like symptoms.Conclusion1. Among554eligible MSM from gay venues in Zhengzhou and Chengdu,68.1%have tested HIV before,59.7%have tested HIV in recent years. The HIV uptaking rateshould be improved in the future.2. Having friends with HIV testing history, being aware of HIV prevalence in localcity, having received HIV intervention services in the past year and always use codomswhen having intercourse with fixed male parteners were associated with high HIV testuptaking rate; underestimating HIV risk and concerns about HIV testing are reasons that impeding HIV test uptaking.3. MSM have diverse HIV testing demands. In order to expand HIV testing amongMSM, key messages for HIV testing promotion should be defined and they should beincluded in the HIV testing compagin. MSM peers and Community-basedOrganizations (CBOs) should be allowed to play their full role in this endeavor, anddiversified testing services should be provided to MSM in order to meet their testingdemands.