Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution of HIV Self-tests by HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men to Social and Sexual Contacts

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) were recruited on www.Facebook.com and www.Poz.com to give HIV self-tests to their contacts. Study participants completed a baseline survey, were given two self-tests, and completed a survey 2 months later. Of 133 eligible men, 40 (30%) completed both surveys. Most participants were 30–54 years old and non-Hispanic white. Some had a detectable viral load (n = 4), had condomless anal sex with male partners of negative or unknown status (n = 17), and had met anal sex partners at gay dating websites (n = 23). Of 80 self-tests given to participants, 59 (74%) were distributed, primarily to non-Hispanic white MSM, 30–54 years old who were friends. Participants reported results from 31 distributed tests; 2 sex partners of participants had positive results. Participants indicated these two persons were unaware of their infections. Expanding recruitment websites might reach non-white MSM. Unrecognized infections were identified through online recruitment and self-test distribution via HIV-positive persons.

Resumen

Los hombres VIH positivos que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) fueron reclutados en Facebook.com y Poz.com para distribuir la prueba para el auto-diagnóstico del VIH a sus contactos. Los participantes del estudio completaron una encuesta de referencia, se les mando dos pruebas auto-diagnósticas del VIH, y completaron una encuesta dos meses después. De 133 hombres elegibles, 40 (30%) completaron ambas encuestas. La mayoría de los participantes tenían entre 30 y 54 años y eran blancos no hispanos. Algunos tenían una carga viral detectable (n = 4), tuvieron sexo anal sin condón con parejas masculinas de estatus VIH-negativo o desconocido (n = 17) y habían conocido a sus parejas sexuales anales en sitios web de citas gay (n = 23). De las 80 pruebas para el auto-diagnóstico del VIH que se dieron a los participantes, 59 (74%) se distribuyeron, principalmente a HSH blancos no hispanos, de 30-54 años y que eran amigos. Los participantes informaron los resultados de 31 pruebas distribuidas; 2 parejas sexuales de los participantes tuvieron resultados positivos. Los participantes indicaron que estas dos personas desconocían sus infecciones. Expandir los sitios web usados en el reclutamiento podría alcanzar a los HSH no blancos. Infecciones no conocidas se identificaron a través del reclutamiento en sitios web y la distribución de pruebas para el autodiagnóstico a través de personas VIH-positivas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Insight Start Study Group, Lundgren JD, Babiker AG, et al. Initiation of antiretroviral therapy in early asymptomatic HIV infection. New Engl J Med. 2015;373(9):795–807.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cohen MS, Chen YQ, McCauley M, et al. Prevention of HIV-1 infection with early antiretroviral therapy. New Engl J Med. 2011;365(6):493–505.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Skarbinski J, Rosenberg E, Paz-Bailey G, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus transmission at each step of the care continuum in the United States. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):588–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Surveillance Report, 2015; vol 27. Published Nov 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-report-2015-vol-27.pdf.

  5. DiNenno EA, Prejean J, Irwin K, et al. Recommendations for HIV screening of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men—United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;66:830–2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Johnson CC, Kennedy C, Fonner V, et al. Examining the effects of HIV self-testing compared to standard HIV testing services: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Int AIDS Soc. 2017;20(1):1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jamil MS, Prestage G, Fairley CK, et al. Effect of availability of HIV self-testing on HIV testing frequency in gay and bisexual men at high risk of infection (FORTH): a waiting-list randomised controlled trial. Lancet HIV. 2017;4(6):e241–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Figueroa C, Johnson C, Verster A, Baggaley R. Attitudes and acceptability on HIV self-testing among key populations: a literature review. AIDS Behav. 2015;19(11):1949–65.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Abramovitz D, Volz EM, Strathdee SA, et al. Using respondent-driven sampling in a hidden population at risk of HIV infection: who do HIV-positive recruiters recruit? Sex Transm Dis. 2009;36(12):750–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of social networks to identify persons with undiagnosed HIV infection–seven U.S. cities, October 2003-September 2004. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2005;54(24):601–5.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Branson BM, Handsfield HH, Lampe MA, et al. Revised recommendations for HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2006;55(14):1–17 quiz CE1-4.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: US Public Health Service: Preexposure prophylaxis for the prevention of HIV infection in the United States—2017 Update: a clinical practice guideline 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/risk/prep/cdc-hiv-prep-guidelines-2017.pdf.

  13. Huang E, Marlin RW, Young SD, Medline A, Klausner JD. Using Grindr, a smartphone social-networking application, to increase HIV self-testing among Black and Latino men who have sex with men in Los Angeles, 2014. AIDS Educ Prev. 2016;28(4):341–50.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Rosengren AL, Huang E, Daniels J, Young SD, Marlin RW, Klausner JD. Feasibility of using GrindrTM to distribute HIV self-test kits to men who have sex with men in Los Angeles. Sex Health: California; 2016.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  15. Pai NP, Smallwood M, Gulati D, et al. What do key stakeholders think about HIV self-testing in Canada? Results from a cross-sectional survey. AIDS Behav. 2018;22(2):606–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Wray T, Chan PA, Simpanen E, Operario D. eTEST: developing a smart home HIV testing kit that enables active, real-time follow-up and referral after testing. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2017;5(5):e62.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Sullivan PS, Driggers R, Stekler JD, et al. Usability and acceptability of a mobile comprehensive HIV prevention app for men who have sex with men: a pilot study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2017;5(3):e26.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Stevens DR, Vrana CJ, Dlin RE, Korte JE. A global review of HIV self-testing: themes and implications. AIDS Behav. 2018;22(2):497–512.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. MacGowan RJ, Chavez PR, Gravens L, et al. Pilot evaluation of the ability of men who have sex with men to self-administer rapid HIV tests, prepare dried blood spot cards, and interpret test results, Atlanta, Georgia. AIDS Behav. 2013;2017:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Orasure Technologies. OraQuick In-Home HIV Test Package Insert 2012. http://www.oraquick.com/assets/base/oraquickfull/pdf/3001-2597%200612%20OQ%20HIV%20OTC%20PI_ENG.pdf.

  21. Sharma A, Chavez PR, MacGowan RJ, et al. Willingness to distribute free rapid home HIV test kits and to test with social or sexual network associates among men who have sex with men in the United States. AIDS Care. 2017;29(12):1499–503.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Delaney KP, Branson BM, Uniyal A, et al. Evaluation of the performance characteristics of 6 rapid HIV antibody tests. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(2):257–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank members of the eSTAMP Study Group, including Laura Gravens, Meredith Noble and Stephen Tregear for their dedication to the success of this project. Sources of support: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded this study.

Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of trade names is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

Funding

This study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Akshay Sharma

    Present address: Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

  2. A. D. McNaghten

    Present address: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and Tuberculosis Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., MS E-46, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and Tuberculosis Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., MS E-46, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    Laura Wesolowski, Pollyanna Chavez, Arin Freeman & Robin MacGowan

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Patrick Sullivan, Akshay Sharma & A. D. McNaghten

  3. Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Brian Mustanski

Authors
  1. Laura Wesolowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pollyanna Chavez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Patrick Sullivan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Arin Freeman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Akshay Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Brian Mustanski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. D. McNaghten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Robin MacGowan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Wesolowski.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Dr. Sullivan reports grants from National Institutes of Health, grants from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, grants from Gilead Sciences and grants from MAC AIDS Fund outside the submitted work.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wesolowski, L., Chavez, P., Sullivan, P. et al. Distribution of HIV Self-tests by HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men to Social and Sexual Contacts. AIDS Behav 23, 893–899 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2277-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2277-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation