255641 Lack of HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2008, United States

Monday, October 29, 2012

Hui Zhang, MBBS, MPH , Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Xinjian Zhang, PhD, MS , Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Elizabeth DiNenno, PhD , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Introduction: In 2009, 59% of persons diagnosed with HIV infection in the United States were men who have sex with men (MSM). For sexually active MSM, CDC recommends HIV testing at least annually to identify infections, link infected persons to medical care, and prevent ongoing transmission. We assessed the characteristics associated with lack of HIV testing among MSM in a nationally representative sample.

Method: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2001-2008, were analyzed using SUDAAN 9.2. Men aged ≥20 years who reported ever having sex with another man were included. Demographics, socio-economic characteristics, and HIV-related drug and sex risk behaviors were included in descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Backward multivariate logistic regression modeling was conducted to identify factors associated with never being HIV tested among MSM.

Results: During 2001-2008, 323 MSM participated in NHANES, of whom 31% (95% Cl=25%, 38%) reported never being tested for HIV. Factors associated with never being tested included being aged 20-24 years (aOR=6.2; 95% CI=1.6, 22.9) compared with those aged 30-39 years and not having health insurance (aOR=2.2; 95% CI=1.1, 4.6) compared with having health insurance. Compared with MSM ever tested for HIV, MSM never tested had significantly fewer sexual partners in the past 12 months (Mean difference=-4.8; 95% Cl=-9.0, -0.6).

Conclusions: Efforts should be made to increase HIV testing among young MSM and MSM without health insurance. MSM who perceive themselves to be at lower risk because they have fewer sex partners may also benefit from HIV testing.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1) determine the proportion of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States who never have been tested for HIV. 2) identify the factors that are associated with never have been tested for HIV among MSM.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an epidemiologist and have been using the data from a national survey for more than 10 years. My scientific interests include but not limited to development of strategies for evaluating HIV prevention activities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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