Prevalence of HIV testing and associated factors among young men who have sex with men (MSM) in Bangkok, Thailand
Vutthikraivit, P.; Lertnimitr, B.; Chalardsakul, P.; Imjaijitt, W.; Piyaraj, P.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 97(Suppl 2): S207-S214
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 25518196 Document Number: 16785
Without the safety and effective vaccine for HIV the HIVvoluntary counseling testing (VCT) has been documented as a central component ofcomprehensive HIV prevention strategies targeting individual risk reduction by modified high risk behaviors. However, the coverage of HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) is suboptimal. Moreove, the information regarding to factors associated with HIV testing among young Thai MSM are limited and not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with HIV testing among young MSM in Bangkok, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangkok. Descriptive statistics were presented with crude- and adjusted-odds ratios with 95% confidence interval and the logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with prior HIV testing. Fifty-six participants were enrolled into study and 51.8% of men previously had an HIV test. After adjusting for potential confounders, logistic regression revealed that older age was positively associated with HIV testing (AOR = 14.4, 95% CI 1.88-111.22) while perceived at low riskfor HIV infection was inversely association with HIV testing (AOR = 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.94). Young MSM in Thailand are at risk for HIV infection and uptake of HIV testing is suboptimal. Understanding the motivators and barriers to HIV testing are essential to planning and improving the effective HIVprevention interventions-relevance to HIV-serostatus.