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HIV self-testing for men who have sex with men in Sweden. A cross-sectional study concerning interest to use HIV self-tests

Kinnman, Elin ; Herder, Tobias LU orcid ; Björkman, Per LU orcid ; Månsson, Fredrik LU and Agardh, Anette LU orcid (2022) In Global Health Action 15(1).
Abstract

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been found to have high acceptability among men who have sex with men (MSM) internationally and might contribute to increase testing frequencies, but many countries, including Sweden, lack policies for using HIVST. Objective: To examine interest to use and willingness to pay for HIVST, and associated factors, among MSM attending HIV testing venues in Sweden. Method: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from a self-administered survey, consisting of 33 questions, collected at six HIV testing venues in Sweden in 2018. The sample consisted of sexually active men who have sex with men, aged ≥ 18 years, and not diagnosed with HIV. Data were analyzed descriptively and by univariable and... (More)

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been found to have high acceptability among men who have sex with men (MSM) internationally and might contribute to increase testing frequencies, but many countries, including Sweden, lack policies for using HIVST. Objective: To examine interest to use and willingness to pay for HIVST, and associated factors, among MSM attending HIV testing venues in Sweden. Method: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from a self-administered survey, consisting of 33 questions, collected at six HIV testing venues in Sweden in 2018. The sample consisted of sexually active men who have sex with men, aged ≥ 18 years, and not diagnosed with HIV. Data were analyzed descriptively and by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Result: Among 663 participants (median age 33 years), 436 respondents (65.8%) expressed interest to use HIVST. Among those interested, less than half, 205 (47.0%), were willing to pay for HIVST. Being interested in HIVST was found to be negatively associated with being in the 55 years or older age group (AOR 0.31, CI 0.14–0.71), and having had syphilis, rectal chlamydia, or rectal gonorrhea in the preceding 12 months (AOR 0.56, CI 0.32–0.99). In the sample of MSM interested in HIVST, willingness to pay was positively associated with being in the age groups 35–44 years (AOR 2.94, CI 1.40–6.21), 45–54 years (AOR 2.82, CI 1.16–6.90), and 55 years or above (AOR 3.90, CI 1.19–12.81), and negatively associated with being single (AOR 0.56, CI 0.36–0.88). Conclusion: This study found high interest for HIVST in a sample of MSM in Sweden. However, HIVST offered at a cost is likely to negatively affect uptake among MSM broadly, compared with free availability.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
HIV policy, HIV prevention, HIVST, key populations, MSM
in
Global Health Action
volume
15
issue
1
article number
2021631
publisher
Co-Action Publishing
external identifiers
  • scopus:85126504747
  • pmid:35289717
ISSN
1654-9716
DOI
10.1080/16549716.2021.2021631
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3e9902b8-583c-4eaf-b4fd-dd3d00fcb2b4
date added to LUP
2022-05-20 16:03:42
date last changed
2024-04-18 07:53:16
@article{3e9902b8-583c-4eaf-b4fd-dd3d00fcb2b4,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been found to have high acceptability among men who have sex with men (MSM) internationally and might contribute to increase testing frequencies, but many countries, including Sweden, lack policies for using HIVST. Objective: To examine interest to use and willingness to pay for HIVST, and associated factors, among MSM attending HIV testing venues in Sweden. Method: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from a self-administered survey, consisting of 33 questions, collected at six HIV testing venues in Sweden in 2018. The sample consisted of sexually active men who have sex with men, aged ≥ 18 years, and not diagnosed with HIV. Data were analyzed descriptively and by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Result: Among 663 participants (median age 33 years), 436 respondents (65.8%) expressed interest to use HIVST. Among those interested, less than half, 205 (47.0%), were willing to pay for HIVST. Being interested in HIVST was found to be negatively associated with being in the 55 years or older age group (AOR 0.31, CI 0.14–0.71), and having had syphilis, rectal chlamydia, or rectal gonorrhea in the preceding 12 months (AOR 0.56, CI 0.32–0.99). In the sample of MSM interested in HIVST, willingness to pay was positively associated with being in the age groups 35–44 years (AOR 2.94, CI 1.40–6.21), 45–54 years (AOR 2.82, CI 1.16–6.90), and 55 years or above (AOR 3.90, CI 1.19–12.81), and negatively associated with being single (AOR 0.56, CI 0.36–0.88). Conclusion: This study found high interest for HIVST in a sample of MSM in Sweden. However, HIVST offered at a cost is likely to negatively affect uptake among MSM broadly, compared with free availability.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kinnman, Elin and Herder, Tobias and Björkman, Per and Månsson, Fredrik and Agardh, Anette}},
  issn         = {{1654-9716}},
  keywords     = {{HIV policy; HIV prevention; HIVST; key populations; MSM}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Co-Action Publishing}},
  series       = {{Global Health Action}},
  title        = {{HIV self-testing for men who have sex with men in Sweden. A cross-sectional study concerning interest to use HIV self-tests}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.2021631}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/16549716.2021.2021631}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}