“The right place and the right time”: A qualitative study of the decision‐making process of self‐initiated HIV testing among young adults

Abstract

Young adults continue to have very low rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, which contribute to transmission, late diagnoses, and poor health outcomes. The access and uptake of HIV testing among young adults can be improved by promoting self‐initiated testing (i.e., testing without the immediate recommendation of a clinician). Little is known, however, about how young adults self‐initiate HIV testing. The purpose of this study was to explore the decision‐making process of young adults who self‐initiated HIV testing. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 30 young adults aged 18–24 years. The findings from this study describe how young adults acknowledge their vulnerability to HIV infection and navigate the process of deciding to self‐initiate testing. Some subcategories include Self‐Convincing, Conversation Prompts, and The Right Place and Right Time. Findings from this study are pivotal for subsequent studies to further understand self‐initiated HIV testing among young adults and design targeted interventions that will improve testing uptake.

Assessing the Prevalence and Determinants of Exposure-Influenced HIV Testing among a Sample of Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis-Naïve Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States

“…For instance, whether HIV testing is passive due to the requirement of research participation, PrEP candidacy evaluation, or financial incentives (i.e., passive HIV testing); more importantly, whether the HIV testing decision is actively made due to the influence of recent sexual exposure to HIV (i.e., exposure-influenced HIV testing). Passive and active (i.e., exposure-influenced) HIV testing can have substantially varying utilities for HIV detection because the latter is more likely to capture individuals with the highest probabilities of HIV seroconversion, particularly for those who are PrEP/PEP-naïve [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. While engaging YMSM in passive HIV testing regardless of sexual risks is a vital strategy for detecting new HIV infections, strategies and resources should also be prioritized to educate and promote exposure-influenced HIV testing among high-risk YMSM, which is essential to bolster US CDC′s overarching HIV testing guidelines and objectives.…”