Syphilis Self-testing: A Nationwide Pragmatic Study Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases 2020-05, Vol.70 (10), p.2178-2186
• Main Authors: Wang, Cheng, Cheng, Weibin, Li, Changchang, Tang, Weiming, Ong, Jason J, Smith, M Kumi, Fu, Hongyun, Marks, Michael, Nie, Juan, Zheng, Heping, Tucker, Joseph D, Yang, Bin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: and Commentaries; China - epidemiology; Cities; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Sexual Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires; Syphilis - diagnosis; Syphilis - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz603

Syphilis self-testing may help expand syphilis testing among men who have sex with men (MSM). China has rapidly scaled up human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing, creating an opportunity for integrated syphilis self-testing. However, there is a limited literature on implementing syphilis self-testing. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Chinese MSM in 2018. Participants completed a survey instrument including sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, syphilis self-testing, and HIV self-testing history. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify correlates of syphilis self-testing. We also recorded potential harms associated with syphilis self-testing. Six hundred ninety-nine MSM from 89 cities in 21 provinces in China completed the study. A total of 361/699 (51.7%) men tested for syphilis, of whom 174/699 (24.9%) men used syphilis self-testing. Among 174 who had self-tested, 90 (51.7%) reported that the self-test was their first syphilis test and 161 (92.5%) reported that they undertook syphilis self-testing together with HIV self-testing. After adjusting for covariates, syphilis self-testing was correlated with disclosure of sexual orientation to family or friends (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-2.73), reporting 2-5 male sexual partners (aOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.04-3.16), HIV self-testing (aOR, 39.90; 95% CI, 17.00-93.61), and never tested for syphilis in the hospital (aOR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.86-4.72). Self-reported harms associated with syphilis self-testing were minimal. Scaling up syphilis self-testing could complement facility-based testing in China among MSM. Self-testing may increase first-time testing and has limited harms. Our findings suggest that syphilis self-testing could be integrated into HIV self-testing services.