title: How Different are Men Who Do Not Know Their HIV Status from Those Who Do? Results from an U.S. Online Study of Gay and Bisexual Men.
abstract: We compared self-described HIV-positive (31.6 %, n = 445), HIV-negative (56.8 %, n = 801), and HIV-unknown (11.6 %, n = 164) gay and bisexual men on sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Participants from across the U.S. were enrolled via a popular sexual networking website to complete an online survey. In total, 44.8 % of HIV-negative and HIV-unknown men said they had not been tested for HIV in the CDC-recommended last 6 months. HIV-unknown men significantly differed from HIV-negative and HIV-positive men in sexual behavior and HIV status disclosure patterns. HIV-unknown men were more willing than HIV-negative men to take PrEP; however, HIV-unknown men were significantly less likely than others to have health insurance or a primary care provider. Given the observed differences, researchers should consider analyzing men who are HIV-unknown distinctly from HIV-negative and HIV-positive men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.|Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), New York, NY, USA.|Doctoral Program in Public Health, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grov
authors.affiliation: Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: H Jonathon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rendina
authors.affiliation: Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), New York, NY, USA. jeffrey.parsons@hunter.cuny.edu.|Doctoral Program in Public Health, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY, USA. jeffrey.parsons@hunter.cuny.edu.|Doctoral Program in Health Psychology and Clinical Science, The Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY, USA. jeffrey.parsons@hunter.cuny.edu.|Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA. jeffrey.parsons@hunter.cuny.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Condomless anal sex; Gay and bisexual men; HIV status disclosure; HIV testing; Men who have sex with men