CDC-funded HIV testing, HIV positivity, and linkage to HIV medical care in non-health care settings among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in the United States

ABSTRACT

In the United States, HIV infection disproportionately affects young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, aged 13–24 years (collectively referred to as YMSM), specifically black YMSM. Knowledge of HIV status is the first step for timely and essential prevention and treatment services. Because YMSM are disproportionately affected by HIV, the number of CDC-funded HIV testing events, overall and newly diagnosed HIV positivity, and linkage to HIV medical care among YMSM in non-health care settings were examined from 61 health department jurisdictions. Differences by age and race/ethnicity were analyzed. Additionally, trends in number of HIV testing events and newly diagnosed HIV positivity were examined from 2011 to 2015. In 2015, 42,184 testing events were conducted among YMSM in non-health care settings; this represents only 6% of tests in non-health care settings. Overall and newly diagnosed HIV positivity was 2.8% and 2.1%, respectively, with black/African–American YMSM being disproportionately affected (5.6% for overall; 4% for newly diagnosed); 71% of YMSM were linked within 90 days. The newly diagnosed HIV positivity among YMSM decreased from 2.8% in 2011 to 2.4% in 2015, and the number of newly diagnosed YMSM also decreased. Further targeted testing efforts among YMSM are needed to identify undiagnosed YMSM, specifically black YMSM.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• testing
• diagnoses
• young men who have sex with men
• linkage

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Prevention Program Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for monitoring of the HIV testing programs. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.