Factors associated with <scp>HIV</scp> testing among young men who have sex with men in Myanmar: a cross‐sectional study

Pham, Minh Duc; Aung, Poe Poe; Paing, Aye Kyawt; Pasricha, Naanki; Agius, Paul A.; Tun, Waimar; Bajracharya, Ashish; Luchters, Stanley

doi:10.1002/jia2.25026

Cited by 29 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Awareness of sexual orientation is an important precursor to provider-initiated HIV testing [36], and non-disclosure of sexual behaviours may hinder the provision of relevant and tailored sexual health information, including assessments of eligibility for biomedical HIV prevention options. Our findings corroborate reports of differential levels of HIV vulnerability and access to HIV services among sexual identities in Myanmar [4,11,23,29] and support the need for HIV prevention strategies tailored to the specific needs of MSM and TW sub -populations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Moreover, clients who did not report a testing history at baseline were 70% less likely to repeat test during the pilot period (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.4), with no significant difference in risk behaviours between those who did and did not repeat test (data not reported). While MSM and TW in Myanmar self‐report high levels of regular HIV testing , the dissonance with data presented in this paper may suggest an overestimation of testing behaviours among MSM or TW, or ongoing barriers to enacting testing aspirations. Documented barriers to HIV testing among MSM and TW in Myanmar include experiences of stigma and discrimination, perceived unfriendliness of government or mainstream health staff, and avoidance of HIV prevention services manifestly catering for MSM and TW among those for whom concealment of sexual identity is a key priority .…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 60%

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HIV incidence and factors associated with testing positive for HIV among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar: data from community‐based HIV testing services

Veronese

Traeger

Oo³

et al. 2020

J Intern AIDS Soc

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Introduction In Myanmar, men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) are disproportionately affected by HIV, despite national HIV program scale‐up. However, limited HIV surveillance capacity prevents monitoring of epidemic trends and program impact. This study aimed to estimate HIV prevalence and incidence and explore associated sexual risk behaviours among MSM and TW clients attending HIV testing clinics in Myanmar. Methods An electronic data management system was implemented in two community‐based, MSM and TW ‐tailored HIV testing clinics in Myanmar in August 2016. Unique client identifiers enabled prospective monitoring of service engagement, testing frequency and outcomes. We estimated HIV incidence and rate of HIV diagnosis at baseline testing visit among clients over a 15 month period. Correlates of HIV diagnoses were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Results 2794 MSM and TW were tested for HIV. At their baseline test, 38% of clients reported any previous testing and 93% reported being sexually active over the previous three months, with 74% reporting sex with casual male partners and 28% reporting consistent condom use with casual partners. 291 clients tested positive for HIV for the first time at baseline (10.4%; 95% CI: 9.3 to 11.6). Twelve incident cases were detected among 279 clients receiving ≥2 tests (incidence = 10.1 per 100 person‐years; 95% CI: 5.73 to 17.8). HIV diagnosis at baseline was significantly associated with being a transgender woman or a non‐openly disclosing man who has sex with men, age 26 to 39 years, and reporting no testing history. Conclusions High HIV incidence and new diagnoses being associated with reporting no testing history points to undiagnosed HIV driving transmissions in Myanmar. Repeat testing was uncommon. HIV programs in Myanmar must focus on promoting frequent HIV testing alongside adequate coverage of education and primary prevention interventions among MSM and TW.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 60%

HIV incidence and factors associated with testing positive for HIV among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar: data from community‐based HIV testing services

Veronese

Traeger

Oo³

et al. 2020

J Intern AIDS Soc

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This finding is supported by studies conducted among both Myanmar and Chinese MSM. 21,43 The current study also revealed that those who engage in substance use are significantly more likely to have been recently tested for HIV. A possible explanation for this is that, as substance use is an effective method for MSM to overcome feelings of shame and internalized homophobia and to facilitate sexual behaviors, 44 users are more sexually active, and sexually active MSM are naturally more likely to undergo testing.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Predictors of Recent HIV Testing Among Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Barrier Perspective

Zheng

Kaufman

2018

AIDS Patient Care and STDs

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In China, men who have sex with men (MSM) account for an increasing proportion of new HIV infections. We aim to assess recent HIV testing (in the past 6 months) among Chinese MSM and to identify barriers to testing. A nationwide sample of MSM (n = 1100) from mainland China was recruited. Data on sociodemographics, HIV-related risks, perceived barriers to testing, and testing behaviors were collected. Approximately 30% of MSM had recently undergone HIV testing. With regard to testing, almost half endorsed each of three barriers: did not believe themselves to be at HIV risk, had a fear of being diagnosed HIV positive, and feared their privacy would be violated during testing. Five distinct classes of barriers were identified from the responses. The adjusted multivariable logistic regression model demonstrated that the participants in both the ''uncertainty concerning testing sites'' and ''low risk and privacy violation'' classes were less likely to undergo testing than those in the ''minimal barrier'' class. Men who were unsure of their HIV status were less likely to undergo testing. Furthermore, participants who had multiple male sexual partners and who engaged in substance use over the preceding 6 months were more likely to undergo testing. Distinct subgroups of testing and HIV status varied within the different barrier classifications. Recent HIV testing rates remain low among MSM in China. Barrier factors associated with testing point to the necessity for preventing and controlling HIV, including increasing the privacy of sites or educating MSM on the importance of testing regularly.

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“…The two remaining factors included having two or more lifetime sexual partners and condom use during the last sexual intercourse. A higher number of sexual partners was reported to be associated with having an HIV test and with HIV infection prevalence in the general population and MSM [38, 39]. The results of the positive association between condom use and having an HIV test were consistent with those of studies among the general population in developing countries and among TB patients and MSM in Cambodia [10, 24, 25, 40], although a negative association between condom use with a noncommercial partner and having an HIV test was found in Cambodian FEWs [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with HIV testing among the general male population in Cambodia: A secondary data analysis of the Demographic Health Survey in 2005, 2010, and 2014

et al. 2019

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In Cambodia, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is predominantly transmitted between spouses and casual partners, with men having higher mortality and morbidity from HIV infection than women due to lesser access to healthcare services and antiretroviral therapy. This study aimed to identify the rate of HIV testing and barriers to HIV testing among the general male population in Cambodia. We analyzed secondary data of men who underwent HIV testing at Voluntary Confidential Counseling and Testing (VCCT) sites in 2006–2017 and of male participants in the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) in 2005, 2010, and 2014. The number of men who underwent HIV testing at the VCCT sites increased during 2006–2010 and decreased during 2012–2015. CDHS data showed that the lifetime prevalence of HIV testing among men aged 15–49 years gradually increased from 14.7% in 2005 to 36.4% in 2014. Multivariate analysis revealed nine factors associated with a higher lifetime prevalence of HIV testing including: seven sociodemographic factors, namely CDHS year (2010 and 2014), age groups (20–35 and 36–49 years), urban residence, higher education, higher wealth index, having occupations other than agriculture, ever-married status (married and widowed/divorced); and two factors of HIV risk behavior, namely two or more lifetime sexual partners and condom use during the last sexual intercourse. To our knowledge, this is the first study that assessed factors associated with the lifetime prevalence of HIV testing among the general male population in Cambodia. The factors were mostly sociodemographic factors, and no factors were related to condom use, or the diagnosis or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These results suggest that reproductive health education at primary schools and strengthening of healthcare provider-initiated testing and counseling for patients with STIs are highly needed in Cambodia.

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Factors associated with HIV testing among young men who have sex with men in Myanmar: a cross‐sectional study

Cited by 29 publications

References 71 publications

HIV incidence and factors associated with testing positive for HIV among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar: data from community‐based HIV testing services

HIV incidence and factors associated with testing positive for HIV among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar: data from community‐based HIV testing services

Predictors of Recent HIV Testing Among Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Barrier Perspective

Factors associated with HIV testing among the general male population in Cambodia: A secondary data analysis of the Demographic Health Survey in 2005, 2010, and 2014

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