Attitude and behavior changes among gay and bisexual men after use of rapid home HIV tests to screen sexual partners.
HIV testing can now be self-administered outside clinical settings through the purchase of home testing (HT) kits. Individuals also can use the kits to perform a test on a potential sexual partner prior to intercourse. We provided a 3-month supply of HT kits to men who reported multiple male partners and little or no condom use for anal intercourse. Participants used the test kits with partners in over 100 occasions. At the end of the study, approximately half of the participants described shifts in their attitudes and/or behaviors related to sexual risk. Reported changes included increased awareness of risk, increased discussion of STI/HIV safety measures, changes in partner choice and heightened consciousness of partner thinking. Easy access to HT kits may be a risk-reduction strategy for men with a high risk profile because their regular use could have an impact beyond the specific sexual encounter.
Timothy
T
Frasca
Ivan
I
Balan
Mobolaji
M
Ibitoye
Juan
J
Valladares
Curtis
C
Dolezal
Alex
A
Carballo-Diéguez
D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult