Prevalence and correlates of HIV testing in a multi-site sample of young men who have sex with men

Abstract

This study assessed HIV testing among 2,621 urban young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Of these, 77% were men of colour, 30% reported recent unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), 22% had never tested for HIV and 71% had not tested recently. Ever testing was associated with older age (OR=1.28), being employed (OR=1.34), exposure to more types of HIV preventions (linear trend p=0.02), sex with a main partner (OR=1.92), sex with a non-main partner (OR=1.36), UAI with a non-main partner (OR=0.53), UAI in the last three months (OR=1.32), knowing a comfortable place for testing (OR=5.44) and social support (OR=1.47). Rates of ever testing increased with behavioural risk with main partners; rates were lowest for men reporting high-risk with non-main partners. Recent testing was associated with greater numbers of HIV-prevention exposures (linear trend p=<0.001), sex with a main partner (OR=1.30), knowing a comfortable place for testing (OR=2.31) and social support (OR=1.23). Findings underscore the urgency of promoting testing among YMSM, point to components for the recruitment and retention of young MSM of colour in testing programmes and highlight the need for a theory-based approach to intervention development.

Acknowledgements

In addition to the co-authors, members of the Community Intervention Trial for Youth (CITY) study team were: David Seal and Jeffrey A. Kelly, Medical College of Wisconsin; Robin Miller and Joseph Stokes, University of Illinois at Chicago; Lydia O'Donnell, Education Development Center, Inc.; Ann Stueve, Columbia University; Wesley L. Ford, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services; and Ellen Iverson, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The authors also wish to thank Achintya Dey, Melissa Cribbin, Janet Moore, Allyn Nakashima, Ron Stall, Linda Valleroy, and Richard Wolitski for their assistance, and the men who participated in the CITY study.

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.