Prevalence of HIV testing and associated factors among young men who have sex with men (MSM) in Bangkok, Thailand.

BACKGROUND

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.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with HIV testing among young MSM in Bangkok, Thailand.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

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.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSION

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.