HIV testing and related factors among 50 years and older MSM in China: results from a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

HIV prevalence has increased continuously, and the age groups most afflicted by the epidemic have also shifted to people aged above 50 years. Informed by the theory of HBM, we aimed to investigate related factors associated with regular HIV testing behavior. Cross-sectional data were collected using online questionnaire from geosocial networking (GSN) mobile application (apps) for MSM during May 2020 (N = 1259). Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Around 62.0% (n = 781) had received HIV testing before. Participants being divorced/widowed (AOR = 1.5,95%CI:1.1–2.0), being aware of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge (AOR = 1.8,95%CI:1.4–2.3), having disclosed sexual orientation (AOR = 1.9,95%CI:1.5–2.5), ever had sexually transmitted infections symptoms (STIs)before (AOR = 2.4,95%CI:1.8–3.2), having had≥2 sexual partners (AOR = 1.8,95%CI:1.4–2.3) and with high self-efficacy (AOR = 1.1,95%CI:1.0–1.1) were more likely to receive HIV testing. Findings suggest that many Chinses MSM aged 50 and above have not been tested for HIV. Interventions for promoting HIV testing should focus on expanding scales of HIV/STIs screening, providing HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, creating a more supportive social environment and improving self-efficacy of HIV testing.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV testing
• older MSM
• HBM
• China

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the persons who contributed to this research: all the professors and lecturers at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College for their instructive suggestions and helpful comments and all the men who participated in this survey, as they contributed to something useful for their community.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available on reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

Ethics approval

This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Jining Medical College in March 2020 (approval number: JNMC-2020-KY-002).

Additional information

Funding

Asian Regional Cooperation Fund of National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (BLXM01); Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences sponsored by Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2017-I2M-B&R-17, 2019-I2M-2-005).