Strategies for promoting HIV testing uptake: willingness to receive couple-based and collective HIV testing among a cross-sectional online sample of men who have sex with men in China.
OBJECTIVE
Low rates of HIV testing drive the rapidly growing HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. We examined the potential usefulness of couple-based and collective HIV testing strategies among Chinese MSM.


METHODS
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1113 MSM in 2013. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with willingness to receive couple-based and collective testing.


RESULTS
Acceptability of couple-based testing was very high among participants (86.1%), with a moderate level of interest in collective testing (43.2%). Being 'out' to others about one's sexual identity (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.48, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.17) and having ever had an HIV test (AOR=3.05, 95% CI 2.10 to 4.33) were associated with willingness to receive couple-based testing. Having multiple male anal sex partners in the past 3 months was associated with willingness to participate in collective testing (AOR=1.43, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Couple-based and collective HIV testing could help better control the HIV epidemic among Chinese MSM if implemented and promoted in a culturally competent manner.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics & Global Health Sciences, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Chongyi
C
Wei
Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China.
Kathryn E
KE
Muessig
University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Cedric
C
Bien
Guangdong Provincial Center for STI Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China.
Ligang
L
Yang
Guangtong-Lingnan MSM Community Support Center, Guangzhou, China.
Roger
R
Meng
University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China School of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Larry
L
Han
University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China School of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Min
M
Yang
University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China School of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Joseph D
JD
Tucker
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015438:Health Behavior; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
CHINA; HIV; HOMOSEXUALITY; SEXUAL HEALTH; TESTING