Internet-using men who have sex with men would be interested in accessing authorised HIV self-tests available for purchase online

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited in sex venues have been shown to be interested in accessing HIV home-tests if reliable and authorised tests were available. To what extent is this true for MSM recruited online? In an online survey in French on the use of unauthorised HIV home-tests purchased online, MSM previously unaware of the existence of these tests were asked if they would be interested in accessing them if these tests were authorised. Among 5908 non-HIV positive respondents, 86.5% expressed interest. Independent variables associated with interest included: being younger, living in smaller towns, having a job but not tertiary education and living in a conventional family with one's parents or a wife and family. Interested men were also more likely to have never done the standard HIV test or not in the last year, to have casual sex partners but on average not more than once a week, to take sexual risks with these partners, to live their sex-lives with men in absolute secrecy and yet often to try to make a date to see their sex partners again. Of the 5109 respondents interested in accessing self-tests purchasable online, 4362 (85.4%) answered an open question on their reasons for being interested. Using thematic analysis, principle themes identified proved to be similar to those found in earlier studies with MSM recruited in sex venues: convenience, rapidity accessing results and privacy. In answer to a closed question, men not interested chose as reasons: satisfaction with current method, doubts about reliability, not wanting to be alone when discovering results and fear of incorrect use. In conclusion, although the online questionnaire may have introduced selection bias over-representing men already interested, many Internet-using MSM are interested in accessing self-tests available for purchase online.

Keywords:

• HIV
• HIV screening
• self-test
• men who have sex with men
• Internet

Acknowledgements

This research was financed by the Agence nationale de recherche sur le sida et les hépatites (ANRS). Tim Greacen, David Friboulet and Serge Hefez collaborated in designing and conducting the survey. Tim Greacen and David Friboulet wrote the manuscript. Audrey Blachier, David Friboulet and Tim Greacen analysed the qualitative data. Lionel Fugon, Nicolas Lorente and Tim Greacen conducted the statistical analyses. Bruno Spire, Serge Hefez, Nicolas Lorente and Lionel Fugon revised the manuscript for submission. Funding sources: This research was funded by the Agence nationale de recherche sur le sida et les hépatites (the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Hepatits) grant number ANRS 08078/09099/09520.