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

Laura Wesolowski; Pollyanna Chavez; Patrick Sullivan; Arin Freeman; Akshay Sharma; Brian Mustanski; A. D. McNaghten; Robin MacGowan

doi:10.1007/s10461-018-2277-0

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

Laura Wesolowski^*, Pollyanna Chavez, Patrick Sullivan, Arin Freeman, Akshay Sharma, Brian Mustanski, A. D. McNaghten, Robin MacGowan

^*Corresponding author for this work

Medical Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	893-899
Number of pages	7
Journal	AIDS and behavior
Volume	23
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2277-0
State	Published - Apr 15 2019

Funding

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. 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. 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.

Keywords

HIV
Internet
Network
Self-test

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10461-018-2277-0

Cite this

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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.",

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

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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