Open AccessHIV Testing Among Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men: The Roles of HIV Knowledge, Online Social Life, and Sexual Identity Concerns
Author(s) -
Shufang Sun,
Laura Whiteley,
Larry K. Brown
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
aids and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.994
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1573-3254
pISSN - 1090-7165
DOI - 10.1007/s10461-019-02471-2
Subject(s) - men who have sex with men , health psychology , psychosocial , public health , psychological intervention , sexual identity , syndemic , homosexuality , psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , medicine , gerontology , clinical psychology , human sexuality , family medicine , psychiatry , gender studies , syphilis , sociology , nursing , psychoanalysis
HIV testing is critical for timely care and controlling the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly for regions with increasing infection rates such as China. This study investigated HIV testing and associated demographic, psychosocial, and risk behavior factors among internet-using Chinese MSM (n = 332). Most participants received HIV testing before (74.1%), which was associated with more HIV knowledge, online social life, and more frequent condomless anal sex. Among MSM who tested previously (n = 246), 48.4% reported regular HIV testing, which was associated with a greater online social life and less sexual identity concerns (internalized homonegativity and concealment motivation). Findings suggest a two-step approach to engage MSM who never tested for HIV and who do not undergo regular testing. Strategies to promote testing should enhance HIV knowledge, sex education, and online MSM community building. Interventions to increase acceptance and positivity of sexual identity are crucial to regular testing.