Behavior intention to use routine opt-out HIV testing in primary care settings among men who have sex with men in China

ABSTRACT

The opt-out option has the advantages of potentially normalizing HIV testing and hence remove stigma involved in HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM). The present study investigated behavioral intention to use free routine opt-out HIV testing in primary care settings and associated factors among MSM in Hong Kong, China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 336 MSM recruited from multiple sources during October 2015 and September 2016. Of the participants, 37.2% intended to use free routine opt-out HIV testing in primary care settings in the next 12 months if it was made available. Adjusted for significant background variables, variables on positive attitudes, perceived subjective norm (i.e., perceived support from male partners for taking up routine opt-out testing) and perceived descriptive norm (i.e., perceived >60% of peers would use this option) were significantly associated with behavioral intention use such testing option. In addition, had ever tested for HIV, and perceived level of trust of health professionals in primary care settings were also significant. Routine opt-out HIV testing is a potential useful means to increase HIV testing coverage among MSM in Hong Kong. Policy makers should consider allocating resources to pilot and implement this testing option.

KEYWORDS:

• Routine opt-out HIV testing in primary care settings
• men who have sex with men
• behavioral intention
• theory of planned behavior
• China

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Joseph T.F. Lau http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2344-7107

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Commissioned Research on Control of Infectious Diseases (Phase III) (Ref#: CU-15-C9), Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong SAR. The funder had no role in study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.