title: Internet-facilitated, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinic-based HIV testing among men who have sex with men in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility of using Internet outreach to encourage men who have sex with men (MSM) to get tested for HIV at voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinics in Beijing and Urumqi, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June to August 2007, two volunteers contacted MSM using instant messaging, online chat rooms, mobile phone, and e-mail (active recruitment). Banners with study information were put at the front pages of three major Chinese gay websites (passive recruitment). Those contacted were offered a modest financial incentive to seek HIV testing at existing VCT clinics. Those who subsequently sought HIV testing services at VCT clinics and provided informed consent completed a questionnaire and a blood draw to test for HIV and syphilis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3,332 MSM were contacted and 429 attended VCT clinics. One out of every 4 men that were recruited through instant messaging actually went for HIV testing, while the recruitment yields for online gay chat rooms, mobile phone contact, and email were 1∶6, 1∶10, and 1∶140, respectively. The majority of participants (80%, 317/399) reported being motivated to seek HIV testing out of concern for their health, and only 3% (11/399) reported being motivated by the financial incentive. Active recruitment tend to recruit MSM who are younger (X(2) = 11.400, P = 0.001), never tested for HIV (X(2) = 4.281, P = 0.039), tested less often (X(2) = 5.638, P = 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internet outreach is a promising way to encourage MSM to seek HIV testing at existing VCT clinics. Active recruitment can target MSM who are younger, never tested for HIV and tested less often.
authors: Division of Health Education and Behavioral Intervention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors: Huachun
authors: H
authors: Zou
authors: Zunyou
authors: Z
authors: Wu
authors: Jianping
authors: J
authors: Yu
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Muhtar
authors: M
authors: Ablimit
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Katharine
authors: K
authors: Poundstone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002681:China; D003376:Counseling; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006266:Health Education; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires