title: A peer-led, community-based rapid HIV testing intervention among untested men who have sex with men in China: an operational model for expansion of HIV testing and linkage to care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine outcomes of a peer-led, community-based intervention providing rapid HIV testing and case management for linkage to care for untested men who have sex with men (MSM) in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rapid HIV testing was performed by trained peer volunteers of a community-based organisation (CBO) in three cities of Jiangsu province at MSM-oriented venues. MSM screened positive were referred and accompanied to local government health agencies (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) for confirmatory HIV testing and provided social support for up to 1 month. Data for the programme were compared with sentinel surveillance surveys of MSM conducted by the national and provincial CDC in the province during the same year to assess differences in the populations reached, in HIV positivity, and linkage to HIV care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 512 previously untested MSM were tested by the CBO programme in 6 months. Compared with those in the surveillance surveys, MSM tested by the CBO were significantly more likely to be younger, single, non-resident of the province, more educated and used condoms less frequently. Higher proportions of HIV-positive MSM screened by the CBO received their confirmatory test results (98.1% vs 72.6%, p<0.001) and linked to care (90.4% vs 42.0%, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trained peers providing rapid HIV testing with social support and case management through the early period following diagnosis can efficiently expand HIV testing and improve linkage to care among MSM in China.
authors.affiliation: Institute of HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention and Control, Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Hongjing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Rainbow Working Group, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Renjie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Chongyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Institute of HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention and Control, Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention and Control, Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jinshui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention and Control, Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA San Francisco Department of Public Health, Centre for Public Health Research, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McFarland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006078:Government Programs; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D006302:Health Services Research; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: CHINA; GAY MEN; HIV; TESTING