Background Improving HIV screening in key populations is a crucial strategy to achieve the goal of eliminating AIDS in 2030. Social networking platforms can be used to recruit high risk-taking men who have sex with men (MSM) to promote the delivery of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) as mobile HIV testing. Therefore, client recruitment and availability of mobile HIV testing through social networking platforms requires further evaluation. Objective The aim of this study is to compare the effects of targeting high risk-taking MSM and HIV case finding between two mobile HIV testing recruitment approaches: through the traditional website-based approach and through social networking platforms. Methods A comparative study design and propensity score matching was applied. The traditional VCT model, that is, the control group, recruited MSM through a website, and a trained research assistant visited the walk-in testing station at a gay village on Friday and Saturday nights. The social networking VCT model, the experimental group, recruited MSM from social networking platforms by periodically reloading into and conducting web-based discussions on dating apps and Facebook. The participants then referred to others in their social networks via a popular messenger app in Taiwan. The test was conducted at a designated time and place during weekdays by a trained research assistant. Across both modes of contact, before the mobile HIV testing, participants needed to provide demographic characteristics and respond to a questionnaire about HIV risk-taking behaviors. Results We recruited 831 MSM over 6 months, with a completion rate of 8.56% (616/7200) in the traditional VCT model and 20.71% (215/1038) in the social networking VCT model. After propensity score matching, there were 215 MSM in each group (mean age 29.97, SD 7.61 years). The social networking model was more likely to reach MSM with HIV risk-taking behaviors, that is, those seeking sexual activity through social media, having multiple sexual partners and unprotected anal intercourse, having experience of recreational drug use, and never having or not regularly having an HIV test, compared with the traditional model. HIV positive rates (incidence rate ratio 3.40, 95% CI 1.089-10.584; P=.03) and clinic referral rates (incidence rate ratio 0.03, 95% CI 0.001-0.585; P=.006) were significantly higher among those in the social networking VCT model than in the traditional VCT model. Conclusions Through effective recruitment strategies on social networking platforms, the social networking VCT mode can be smoothly promoted, as compared with the traditional VCT model, to target high risk-taking MSM and increase testing outcomes.
In this study, a novel approach for preparation of terbium-doped yttrium oxide phosphors (Y2O3: Tb) by using the bicontinuous cubic phase (BCP) process was reported. EDS analysis revealed the homogeneous precipitation occurred in the BCP structure. The experimental results showed that the prepared precursor powder was yttrium hydroxide with a spherical shape, primary size 30-50nm, and amorphous structure. High crystallinity phosphors with body-centered cubic structure were obtained after heat treatment above 700oC for 4h. However, the primary size of phosphors grew to 100-200nm and the dense agglomerates with a size below 1µm were formed during the calcination. The photoluminescence analysis showed that the obtained Y2O3: Tb phosphor had a strong green emitting at 544nm. The strongest emitting intensity occurred at Tb concentration of 1mol%. This study indicated that the BCP process could be used to prepare the highly efficient yttrium oxide-based green emitting phosphors.
BACKGROUND Social networking platforms could be the direct path to recruit high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) and promote the delivery of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) as mobile HIV testing (MHT). The structured client recruitment and availability of MHT through social networking platforms need to further evaluate its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE This research aimed to compare the effects of targeting high-risk MSM and HIV case finding between two MHT recruitment and approaches through the website and social networking platforms. METHODS Comparative study design and propensity score matching (PSM) was applied. Traditional VCT model, the control group, recruited MSM on a website and provided a walk-in testing station at a gay zone on Friday and Saturday nights. Social networking VCT mode, the experimental group, recruited MSM from social networking platforms applying the reloading into and online discussion function in dating applications (apps) and Facebook, and referrals to social networks by the mobile phone app, and provided a test at a designated time and place during weekdays. RESULTS A total of 857 MSM were recruited over six months; the completion rate was 8.56% (616/7200) in the traditional VCT model and 20.8% (215/1033) in the social networking VCT mode. After PSM, there were 215 MSM in each group with a mean age of 29.97 (SD=7.609). The social networking model was more likely to reach MSM with HIV risk behaviours: those seeking sex through social media, having multiple sexual partners and unprotected anal intercourse, an experience of recreational drug use, and never having or not regularly having an HIV test than the traditional model. HIV positive rates (IRR=3.395, 95% CI=1.089-10.584, p=0.026) and clinic referred rates (IRR=0.028, 95% CI=0.001-0.585, p=0.006) were significantly higher among those in the social networking VCT model than the traditional VCT model. CONCLUSIONS Through effective recruitment strategies on social networking platforms, the social networking VCT mode can be smoothly promoted compared to traditional VCT model to target high-risk MSM and promote testing outcomes.
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