Behavior intention to use routine opt-out HIV testing in primary care settings among men who have sex with men in China.

Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8915313 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1360-0451 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09540121 NLM ISO Abbreviation: AIDS Care Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, U.K. : Carfax Pub. Co., c1989-

Health Behavior* ; Intention*; HIV Infections/*diagnosis ; Homosexuality, Male/*psychology ; Mass Screening/*methods ; Primary Health Care/*methods; Adult ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Discrimination, Psychological ; Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Serologic Tests ; Sexual Partners ; Social Stigma ; Young Adult

The opt-out option has the advantages of potentially normalizing HIV testing and hence remove stigma involved in HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM). The present study investigated behavioral intention to use free routine opt-out HIV testing in primary care settings and associated factors among MSM in Hong Kong, China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 336 MSM recruited from multiple sources during October 2015 and September 2016. Of the participants, 37.2% intended to use free routine opt-out HIV testing in primary care settings in the next 12 months if it was made available. Adjusted for significant background variables, variables on positive attitudes, perceived subjective norm (i.e., perceived support from male partners for taking up routine opt-out testing) and perceived descriptive norm (i.e., perceived >60% of peers would use this option) were significantly associated with behavioral intention use such testing option. In addition, had ever tested for HIV, and perceived level of trust of health professionals in primary care settings were also significant. Routine opt-out HIV testing is a potential useful means to increase HIV testing coverage among MSM in Hong Kong. Policy makers should consider allocating resources to pilot and implement this testing option.

Keywords: China; Routine opt-out HIV testing in primary care settings; behavioral intention; men who have sex with men; theory of planned behavior

Date Created: 20190504 Date Completed: 20200601 Latest Revision: 20200601

20231215

10.1080/09540121.2019.1612003

31046420