Distribution of HIV Self-tests by Men Who have Sex with Men (MSM) to Social Network Associates

Internet-recruited gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) were offered HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) after completing baseline, 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up surveys. The surveys asked about the use and distribution of these HIVSTs. Among 995 who reported on their distribution of HIVSTs,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS and behavior 2023-05, Vol.27 (5), p.1716-1725
Main Authors: Patel, Shilpa N., Chavez, Pollyanna R., Borkowf, Craig B., Sullivan, Patrick S., Sharma, Akshay, Teplinskiy, Ilya, Delaney, Kevin P., Hirshfield, Sabina, Wesolowski, Laura G., McNaghten, A. D., MacGowan, Robin J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bisexuality
Diagnostic tests
Distribution
Gays & lesbians
Health Psychology
HIV
HIV Infections - diagnosis
HIV Infections - epidemiology
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Home medical tests
Homosexuality, Male
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Infectious Diseases
Internet
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Men
Men who have sex with men
Mens health
Original Paper
Public Health
Self testing
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Sexual Behavior
Sexually transmitted diseases
Social Networking
Social networks
Social organization
STD
Surveys
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Summary:Internet-recruited gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) were offered HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) after completing baseline, 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up surveys. The surveys asked about the use and distribution of these HIVSTs. Among 995 who reported on their distribution of HIVSTs, 667 (67.0%) distributed HIVSTs to their social network associates (SNAs), which resulted in 34 newly identified HIV infections among 2301 SNAs (1.5%). The main reasons participants reported not distributing HIVSTs included: wanting to use the HIVSTs themselves (74.9%); thinking that their SNAs would get angry or upset if offered HIVSTs (12.5%); or not knowing that they could give the HIVSTs away (11.3%). Self-testing programs can provide multiple HIVSTs and encourage the distribution of HIVST by MSM to their SNAs to increase awareness of HIV status among persons disproportionately affected by HIV.
ISSN:1090-7165
1573-3254
DOI:10.1007/s10461-022-03903-2