Socio-demographic factors predicting HIV test seeking behaviour among MSM in 6 EU cities.
HIV testing is generally accepted as being the lynchpin of a prevention strategy to tackle the HIV epidemic among MSM. However, few studies have analysed in detail the factors that influence HIV test seeking behaviour.



The objective of this article is to analyse the relationship between HIV test seeking behaviour and individual, social and demographic factors in a sample of MSM recruited though a multi-centre bio-behavioural cross-sectional study. A multi-level analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with HIV test seeking behaviour.



A total of 2400 men were included in the sample. Age, self-reported sexual orientation, residence, household composition, educational status and perceived homonegativity all seem to impact on test seeking behaviour.



The results suggest the need for more targeted testing promotion strategies among MSM that take structural and environmental factors into consideration, as part of a comprehensive public health strategy to address the HIV epidemic.
CReMPE - Regional Coordination Centre for European Project Management Veneto Region - Department of Health, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.|Infectious Diseases Section, Department of Pathology, Verona University Hospital - Veneto Region, Verona, Italy.
Massimo
M
Mirandola
CReMPE - Regional Coordination Centre for European Project Management Veneto Region - Department of Health, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Lorenzo
L
Gios
CReMPE - Regional Coordination Centre for European Project Management Veneto Region - Department of Health, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Ruth
R
Joanna Davis
CReMPE - Regional Coordination Centre for European Project Management Veneto Region - Department of Health, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Martina
M
Furegato
CReMPE - Regional Coordination Centre for European Project Management Veneto Region - Department of Health, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Michele
M
Breveglieri
Centre for Epidemiological Studies on HIV/STI in Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Agencia de Salut Publica de Catalunya (ASPC), Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
Cinta
C
Folch
NRC for HIV/AIDS, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Danica
D
Staneková
ACCEPT, Bucharest, Romania.
Irina
I
Nita
National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
Džamila
D
Stehlíková
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005062:European Union; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*