title: Perceptions of lifetime risk and actual risk for acquiring HIV among young men who have sex with men.
abstract: Among young men who have sex with men (MSM) surveyed in six US cities, we evaluated the magnitude and correlates of perceived lifetime risk for acquiring HIV, and missed opportunities to increase risk perception by providers of health-care and HIV-testing services. Overall, approximately one quarter of young MSM perceived themselves at moderate/high risk for acquiring HIV. Adjusting for demographic, prior testing, and behavioral characteristics, moderate/high perceived risk had the strongest association with unrecognized HIV infection. However, half of the 267 young MSM with unrecognized infection perceived themselves at low lifetime risk for acquiring HIV, and many young MSM with low-risk perception reported considerable risk behaviors. Providers of health-care and HIV-testing services missed opportunities to assess risks and recommend testing for young MSM. To increase HIV testing, prevention providers should intensify efforts to assess, and to increase when needed, perceptions of lifetime risks for acquiring HIV among young MSM.
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention-Surveillance and Epidemiology, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS E-46, Atlanta, Georgia, GA 30333, USA. dym4@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Duncan A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: MacKellar
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Valleroy
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Secura
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behel
authors.forename: Trista
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Celentano
authors.forename: Beryl A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Koblin
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LaLota
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shehan
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thiede
authors.forename: Lucia V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Torian
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior