Benefits and Potential Harms of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Self-Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China: An Implementation Perspective

Qin, Yilu; Tang, Weiming; Nowacki, Amy S.; Mollan, Katie R.; Reifeis, Sarah A.; Hudgens, Michael G.; Wong, Ngai Sze; Li, Haochu; Tucker, Joseph D.; Wei, Chongyi

doi:10.1097/olq.0000000000000581

Cited by 44 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…Similar to other studies in Chinese MSM, in this study MSM recruited via the internet, compared to other MSM, had a higher income, were more likely to use illicit drugs, had previously tested for HIV less frequently, and were likely to seek male sex partners and HIV knowledge or HIV intervention programmes online . These findings also suggest that online interventions could reach internet‐using MSM at high risk of HIV infection in China.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…This suggests that there is great scope for promoting oral HIVST among internet‐using MSM who have not conducted HIVST but are willing to do so. A study reported that 31% of internet‐using Chinese MSM tested for HIV used HIVST as their first HIV test . Studies in the USA demonstrated that internet‐using MSM, especially those who had never tested for HIV or who had CAI, preferred oral HIVST to any other testing strategies, such as VCT .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As HIV prevalence among MSM is currently higher than in any other key population in China, this is not a major problem in this case. A study targeting internet‐using MSM in China reported that only 44% of MSM performing HIVST confirmed their self‐test results . To maximize the impact of HIVST on the HIV epidemic, effective approaches should be identified to link those self‐testing positive to confirmatory testing and treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Promoting oral HIV self‐testing via the internet among men who have sex with men in China: a feasibility assessment

Wang¹,

Tang

Wu³

et al. 2019

HIV Medicine

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ObjectivesThe HIV prevalence among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) is high, while the HIV testing rate is low. HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a promising means of scaling up HIV testing among MSM in China, as the ability to test in private is appealing to many individuals. We evaluated the feasibility of promoting oral HIVST via the internet in the MSM population. MethodsFrom April 2013 to April 2014, MSM in two major cities in China were recruited for an observational study with assessment at baseline and follow-up. Data were collected via questionnaire, oral HIVST, and clinic-based HIV confirmatory testing. ResultsA total of 510 MSM were recruited at baseline and 279 (54.7%) returned for a clinic follow-up visit. Compared to MSM recruited via peer referral, those recruited via the internet were better educated, had a higher monthly income, sought and met male sex partners online more frequently, had less often tested or orally tested for HIV before, and being more likely to seek HIV knowledge or HIV intervention information online. The sensitivity of oral HIVST among MSM recruited via the internet was 92.9%, and the specificity was 96.8%. A total of 19.0% of MSM sought both male sex partners and HIV intervention programmes online. The associated factors were > 10 past male sex partners and ever testing for HIV using an oral self-test kit. All MSM who were followed up re-administered oral HIVST, yet fewer MSM recruited via the internet accepted blood retesting than other MSM. ConclusionsPromoting oral HIVST via the internet could be a feasible and promising approach to facilitate HIV testing among MSM in China. HIV self-testing among MSM 323 OR, odds ratio; CAI, condomless anal intercourse; CI, confidence interval. *Univariable logistic regression was performed with all characteristics as independent variables. Only variables with P-values < 0.05 in univariable analysis are shown in the table and were included in the multivariable analysis. † All P-values are two-sided. Comparisons with P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. © 2019 British HIV Association HIV Medicine (2020), 21, 322--333 HIV self-testing among MSM 329 OR, odds ratio; CAI, condomless anal intercourse; CI, confidence interval. *Univariable logistic regression was performed with all characteristics as independent variables. Only variables with P-values < 0.05 in univariable analysis are shown in the table and were included in the multivariable analysis. † All P-values are two-sided. Comparisons with P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Promoting oral HIV self‐testing via the internet among men who have sex with men in China: a feasibility assessment

Wang¹,

Tang

Wu³

et al. 2019

HIV Medicine

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“…The dedication of peer educators in supporting clients with reactive results to access confirmatory testing and ART services is thought to have contributed to the linkage results. Data are limited on lay provider testing and self‐testing among PWID, FSWs and partners of PLHIV but previous studies on HIV self‐testing among MSM show lower but still impressive linkage, for example, 77.5% in China and 78% in the United Kingdom .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Community‐led HIV testing services including HIV self‐testing and assisted partner notification services in Vietnam: lessons from a pilot study in a concentrated epidemic setting

Nguyen¹,

Phan²,

Kato³

et al. 2019

J Intern AIDS Soc

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Introduction The HIV epidemic in Vietnam is concentrated in key populations and their partners – people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, sex workers and partners of people living with HIV. These groups have poor access to and uptake of conventional HIV testing services (HTS). To address this gap, lay provider‐ and self‐testing and assisted partner notification (aPN) were introduced and delivered by the community. We explored the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing aPN as part of community testing services for key populations. Methods Lay provider testing and self‐testing was started in January 2017, and targeted key populations and their partners. Since July 2017, aPN was introduced. HTS was offered at drop‐in houses or coffee shops in Thai Nguyen and Can Tho provinces. All self‐testing was assisted and observed by peer educators. Both in‐person and social network methods were used to mobilize key populations to test for HIV and offer HTS to partners of people living with HIV. Client‐level data, including demographic information and self‐reported risk behaviour, were collected on site by peer educators. Results Between January 2017 and May 2018, 3978 persons from key populations were tested through community‐led HTS; 66.7% were first‐time testers. Of the 3978 clients, 3086 received HTS from a lay provider and 892 self‐tested in the presence of a lay provider. Overall, 245 (6.2% of tested clients) had reactive results, 231 (94.3%) were confirmed to be HIV positive; 215/231 (93.1%) initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART). Of 231 adult HIV‐positive clients, 186 (80.5%) were provided voluntary aPN, and 105 of their partners were contacted and received HTS. The ratio of partners who tested for HIV per index client was 0.56. Forty‐four (41.9%) partners of index clients receiving HTS were diagnosed with HIV, 97.7% initiated ART during the study period. No social harm was identified or reported. Conclusions Including aPN as part of community‐led HTS for key populations and their partners is feasible and effective, particularly for reaching first‐time testers and undiagnosed HIV clients. Scale‐up of aPN within community‐led HTS for key populations is essential for achieving the United Nations 90‐90‐90 targets in Vietnam.

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“…The high linkage in that study was likely due to follow-up calls after HIVST distribution, the ease of participant's access to the opinion leaders and also the linkage to a well-trusted MSM-friendly facility that offers HIV prevention services. Studies conducted in other areas reported both fairly low [22] and high [23], [24]. linkage to HIV care and treatment after self-testing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

What Determines HIV Self-Test Acceptability and Uptake Within The MSM Community in Nairobi and Its Environs? A Cross Sectional Study

Ndungu

Gichangi

Temmerman

2020

Preprint

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Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus self-test (HIVST) refers to a process where a person collects his or her own specimen (blood or oral), performs a test and interprets the results. The interpretation of results can either be done in private or through support of a trusted partner. Self-test should be seen as screening and confirmatory test should be sort.Study Objective: To determine facilitating factors for HIVST acceptability and uptake among MSM community.Methods: The researcher employed a cross-sectional exploratory study design, targeting men who have sex with men (MSM) and men sex workers (MSW). The researcher used purposive sampling to identify the sites where data was collected, snowballing techniques were then employed to reach the respondents. Results: There was a significant association between self-test and frequency of testing for HIV/AIDS at P-Value of 0.011. Eighty three percent (83%) of the respondents had a negative HIV test result, (16%) had a positive result from the previous result. Most of the MSM will seek for confirmatory test, if tested HIV positive through HIVST. Majority of the MSM respondents indicated they would go for counselling after testing positive. Healthcare workers advocated for pre-testing counselling. There was also a significant association between respondents who had never tested using self-test kits and the need for a treatment “buddy” with a P- Value of 0.014. Fifty nine percent of the respondents would prefer blood sample test kits, the kits were seen to be more accurate than oral test kits. High cost of the self-test kits and inadequate knowledge on the use of HIV self-test kits were the main hindrances to HIVST uptake.Conclusions: A significant number of MSM community in Kenya are willing to use HIVST and are likely to seek for care within 30 days of self-testing and this is a good indicator of linkage. Blood sample kits are more preferred. Key facilitating factors for HIVST uptake include; awareness creation on the importance of HIVST and training on usage of kits, emphasis on treatment ‘buddy” for first time testers and reduction on cost of the kits.

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Benefits and Potential Harms of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Self-Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China: An Implementation Perspective

Cited by 44 publications

References 22 publications

Promoting oral HIV self‐testing via the internet among men who have sex with men in China: a feasibility assessment

Promoting oral HIV self‐testing via the internet among men who have sex with men in China: a feasibility assessment

Community‐led HIV testing services including HIV self‐testing and assisted partner notification services in Vietnam: lessons from a pilot study in a concentrated epidemic setting

What Determines HIV Self-Test Acceptability and Uptake Within The MSM Community in Nairobi and Its Environs? A Cross Sectional Study

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