Division of Public Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
PLoS One. 2024 Aug 14;19(8):e0306807. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306807. eCollection 2024.
HIV testing is an important component of HIV prevention and serves as a gateway to other HIV-related services. However, the uptake remains suboptimal among young people, particularly in highly prevalent settings such as Papua New Guinea (PNG). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determine the predictors of HIV testing uptake among young men aged 15-24 years in PNG.
The 2016-2018 PNG Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data was used. A total of 1,275 young men aged 15-24 years were included in the final analysis. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of HIV testing. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. All analyses were adjusted using survey weights to account for unequal sampling probabilities.
The overall prevalence of HIV testing among young men was 17.1% (95% CI: 15-19). Of those who were tested for HIV, about one-third (32.9%) had experienced a sexual debut at age <15 years, and 33.9% inconsistently used condoms during sex. In multivariable analysis, men aged 20-24 years (AOR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00-2.31), who owned mobile phones (AOR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.00-2.55), who were aware that consistent condom use during sex can reduce HIV risk (AOR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.18-4.04), who had paid for sex (AOR 1.75, 95% CI: 1.01-5.83), and who had two or more sexual partners (AOR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01-3.14) had increased odds of HIV testing. However, decreased odds of HIV testing were found among men who were never married (AOR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.29-0.88), lived in rural areas (AOR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32-0.92), and consistently used condoms during sex (AOR 0.59, 95% CI: 0.34-1.01).
The findings show that HIV testing is low among young men in PNG. To increase HIV testing uptake among young men, it is crucial to implement comprehensive youth-friendly HIV/STI education and tailored sensitization programs and enable more accessible and affordable HIV testing services. Also, outreach and community-based testing programs for young men in rural and prioritized areas requiring urgent prevention interventions are feasible options in PNG.
艾滋病病毒检测是艾滋病预防的重要组成部分，也是获得其他艾滋病相关服务的途径。然而，在年轻人中，艾滋病病毒检测的接受率仍然不理想，特别是在巴布亚新几内亚（PNG）等艾滋病病毒流行率较高的地区。本研究旨在评估 PNG 15-24 岁年轻男性中艾滋病病毒检测的流行率，并确定其影响因素。
使用 2016-2018 年 PNG 人口与健康调查（DHS）数据。最终分析纳入了 1275 名 15-24 岁的年轻男性。采用描述性、双变量和多变量逻辑回归分析来确定艾滋病病毒检测的独立预测因素。报告了调整后的优势比（AOR）及其 95%置信区间（CI）。所有分析均采用调查权重进行调整，以考虑到不等的抽样概率。
总体而言，年轻男性中艾滋病病毒检测的流行率为 17.1%（95%CI：15-19）。在接受过艾滋病病毒检测的人群中，约三分之一（32.9%）的人在 15 岁之前有过性行为，33.9%的人在性行为中不规律地使用安全套。在多变量分析中，20-24 岁的男性（AOR 1.18，95%CI：1.00-2.31）、拥有手机的男性（AOR 1.43，95%CI：1.00-2.55）、知道坚持使用安全套可以降低艾滋病病毒风险的男性（AOR 2.18，95%CI：1.18-4.04）、有过有偿性行为的男性（AOR 1.75，95%CI：1.01-5.83）和有两个或更多性伴侣的男性（AOR 1.37，95%CI：1.01-3.14），他们进行艾滋病病毒检测的可能性更高。然而，从未结婚的男性（AOR 0.51，95%CI：0.29-0.88）、居住在农村地区的男性（AOR 0.54，95%CI：0.32-0.92）和坚持在性行为中使用安全套的男性（AOR 0.59，95%CI：0.34-1.01），他们进行艾滋病病毒检测的可能性较低。
研究结果表明，PNG 年轻男性中艾滋病病毒检测率较低。为了提高年轻男性的艾滋病病毒检测率，必须实施全面的、以青年为中心的艾滋病病毒/性传播感染教育和针对性的宣传计划，并提供更多方便和负担得起的艾滋病病毒检测服务。此外，在农村和需要紧急预防干预的优先地区，针对年轻男性的外展和社区检测方案是可行的选择。
