Active targeted HIV testing and linkage to care among men who have sex with men attending a gay sauna in Thailand

Existing data on the feasibility of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and counseling (HTC) and linkage to care among men who have sex with men (MSM) in hotspots are currently limited. A prospective study on active targeted HTC and linkage to care among MSM (≥18 years old) was conducted at a gay sauna in Thailand from November 2013 to October 2015. HIV risks and risk perception were evaluated through an anonymous survey. HIV testing with result notification and care appointment arrangement were provided on-site. Of the 358 participants; median age was 30 years; 206/358(58%) were at high risk for HIV acquisition; 148/358(41%) accepted HTC, all of whom either had prior negative HIV tests [98/148 (66%)] or had not known their HIV status [50/148 (34%)]. The three most common reasons for declining HTC were prior HIV testing within 6 months (48%), not ready (19%) and perceiving self as no risk (11%). Of the 262 moderate- and high-risk participants, 172 (66%) had false perception of low HIV risk which was significantly associated with declining HTC. Among the 148 participants undergoing HTC, 25 (17%) were HIV-infected. Having false perception of low risk (P = 0.004) and age <30 years (P = 0.02) were independently associated with HIV positivity. Only 14 of the 25 HIV-infected participants (56%) could be contacted after the result notification, of whom 12 (86%) had established HIV care and received immediate antiretroviral therapy. The active targeted HTC and facilitating care establishment was feasible among MSM attending the gay sauna but required strategies to improve accuracy of HIV-risk perception and linkage to care

Family medicine · Men who have sex with men · Perception · Risk perception · Syphilis · Demography · HIV Research and Treatment · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology

• Meta-Analysis of High-Risk Sexual Behavior in Persons Aware and Unaware They are Infected With HIV in the United States

  Gary Marks, Nicole Crepaz et al.•JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune…•2005

  Incluir item

• Prevention of HIV-1 Infection with Early Antiretroviral Therapy

  Myron S Cohen, Ying Qing Chen et al.•New England Journal of Medicine•2011

  Incluir item

• Attitudes toward, and interest in, the test-and-treat strategy for HIV prevention among Thai men who have sex with men

  Wirach Maek-a-nantawat, Nittaya Phanuphak et al.•AIDS Care•2014

  Incluir item