Applicability and feasibility of

Yanshan Cai; Yuzhou GU; Fei Zhong; Lirui Fan; Yuteng Zhao; Yefei Luo; Yongheng LU; Weiyun HE; Weibin Cheng; Huifang XU

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Applicability and feasibility of "Lingnanzhun" -an "Internet Plus-based HIV Self-testing Tool" targeting MSM in Guangzhou

VernacularTitle: 广州市MSM"互联网+HIV自检服务平台"——"岭南准"的适用性和可行性分析
Author: Yanshan CAI ¹ ; Yuzhou GU ¹ ; Fei ZHONG ¹ ; Lirui FAN ¹ ; Yuteng ZHAO ¹ ; Yefei LUO ¹ ; Yongheng LU ² ; Weiyun HE ¹ ; Weibin CHENG ¹ ; Huifang XU ¹
Author Information

1. Department of AIDS Control and Prevention, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, China
2. Lingnan Partners Community Support Center, Guangzhou 510080, China
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Men who have sex with men; HIV; Self-testing; Behavior characteristics
From: Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2019;40(10):1212-1216
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective:This article was to evaluate the applicability and feasibility of "Lingnanzhun" -an "Internet Plus-based HIV Self-testing Tool" targeting MSM in Guangzhou. Hopefully, the results could be used to improve the existing HIV testing services and to support the implementation and scale-up of HIV self-testing programs.
Methods:Data were collected from a survey on HIV testing preferences among the Internet-using MSM in April to June, 2015. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to identify factors associated with the use of HIV self-testing service provided by Lingnanzhun. Information related to the users of Lingnanzhun during September 2014 and December 2018 was also collected.
Results:769 MSM were recruited as participants. Of them, age distribution was 16-77(28.6±6.8) years old, 88.3%(679/769) were unmarried, 42.2%(325/769) were registered residents of Guangzhou, 82.1%(631/769) had university or college education. Among them, 195 (25.4%) used the HIV self- testing program of Lingnanzhun while 574 (74.6%) using the clinic service. Compared with the clinic service users, the Lingnanzhun users showed the following characteristics: longer experience in the MSM community ≥10 years (32.8% vs. 20.9%, 64/195 vs. 120/574); having male casual sexual partners ≥2 (42.1% vs. 29.6%, 82/195 vs. 170/574); having group sex (6.2% vs. 2.6%, 12/195 vs. 15/574) and having commercial sex with men (13.8% vs. 3.0%, 27/195 vs. 17/574). Data from the Lingnanzhun users showed that a total of 3 000 users had practised 5 038 times of self HIV-testings. 11.4% (343/3 000) of the Lingnanzhun users had never been tested.
Conclusions:It was applicable and feasible to provide Internet-based HIV self-testing service to MSM as a significant complement to the traditional facility-based HIV testing services. It was also useful in accessing those who were having higher risk or had never received HIV testing so as to increase the testing uptake and the frequency.