title: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Practices and Interest in Self-Testing Options Among Young, Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in North Carolina.
abstract: Young, black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) experience disproportionately high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence in the United States. Relative to other at-risk populations, less is known about their HIV testing behaviors and preferences regarding self-testing.
  
  
  
  We used an online survey to investigate testing practices and interest in self-testing among HIV-uninfected, 18- to 30-year-old YBMSM in North Carolina.
  
  
  
  From July 2014 to March 2015, 212 completed the survey; median age was 24 years. Among 175 (83%) who had ever been tested, 160 (91%) reported testing in the prior year, 124 (71%) tested at least every 6 months, and 71 (40%) tested at least quarterly. About three quarters (77%; n = 164) were aware of HIV self-testing; 35 (17%) had ever purchased rapid (n = 27) or dried blood spot-based (n = 14) kits. Participants aware of kits had greater intention to test in the next 6 months, were more likely to have income for basic necessities and to ask sex partners about HIV status, and were less likely to have a main sex partner or to have had transactional sex. Among 142 participants at least somewhat likely to self-test in the future, convenience (35%), privacy (23%), and rapid result delivery (18%) were the principal motivators.
  
  
  
  Eight of every 10 YBMSM have ever been tested for HIV, but intertest intervals remain unacceptably long for many. Awareness of and interest in self-testing is substantial, but few have used this method. Expanded use of self-tests could help increase the frequency of HIV testing in this epidemiologically important population.
authors: From the *Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, and †Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors: Christopher B
authors: CB
authors: Hurt
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Soni
authors: William C
authors: WC
authors: Miller
authors: Lisa B
authors: LB
authors: Hightow-Weidman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D009657:North Carolina; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult