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Knowledge and Prior Use of HIV Self-Testing in Madrid and Barcelona among Men Who Have Sex with Men More than One Year after Its Legal Authorization in Spain

Author

Listed:
  • Juan-Miguel Guerras

    (Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • María-José Belza

    (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • María-José Fuster

    (Sociedad Española Interdisciplinaria del SIDA, SEISIDA, 28036 Madrid, Spain
    Departamento de Psicología Social y de las Organizaciones, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Luis de la Fuente

    (Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Patricia García de Olalla

    (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Servicio de Epidemiología, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, 08023 Barcelona, Spain)

  • David Palma

    (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Servicio de Epidemiología, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, 08023 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Jorge-Néstor García-Pérez

    (Unidad de ITS de Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, 08001 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Juan Hoyos

    (Independent Researcher, 28013 Madrid, Spain)

  • on behalf of the Methysos Project Group

    (Collaborators/Membership of the Group is provided in the Supplementary Material)

Abstract

This study assessed the knowledge and prior use of HIV self-testing in a sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited in a sexual health clinic and two community-based testing sites in Madrid and Barcelona, >12 months after its legal authorization. Between March 2019 and December 2020, we recruited 2044 MSM. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire while waiting to be tested for HIV and other STIs. We built two Poisson regression models to assess factors associated with prior knowledge and with use. Among those who had used self-testing in the past we assessed frequency of use and several aspects related to the last testing episode. The proportion of participants that knew about the existence of self-testing and had already used it was of 26.3% and 5.1% respectively. Both, knowledge and use were independently associated with being born in Spain or other western European countries, university education and more recent HIV testing. Additionally, knowledge was associated with older age, having a more favorable economic situation, and not living sexuality in total secrecy. Use was also associated with having received money in exchange for sex. Most (69.5%) reported having self-tested once, 64.8% had self-tested <12 months ago, 63.8% self-tested alone and 71.4% acquired the kit at a pharmacy over the counter. In spite of its authorization and becoming legally available, knowledge and use of HIV self-testing remain low among MSM attending sites specialized in the diagnosis of HIV and other STIs. When designing scale-up strategies, lower levels of knowledge and use in less favored subgroups of MSM need to be factored in.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan-Miguel Guerras & María-José Belza & María-José Fuster & Luis de la Fuente & Patricia García de Olalla & David Palma & Jorge-Néstor García-Pérez & Juan Hoyos & on behalf of the Methysos Project Gr, 2022. "Knowledge and Prior Use of HIV Self-Testing in Madrid and Barcelona among Men Who Have Sex with Men More than One Year after Its Legal Authorization in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1096-:d:728322
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Juan Hoyos & Juan-Miguel Guerras & Tomás Maté & Cristina Agustí & Laura Fernández-López & Luis de la Fuente & María-José Belza, 2021. "Opinions towards Key Operational Aspects for the Implementation of HIV Self-Testing in Spain: A Comparison between Stakeholders and Potential Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    2. Juan Hoyos & Tomás Maté & Juan-Miguel Guerras & Marta Donat & Cristina Agustí & Matthias Kuske & Ricardo Fuertes & Sophocles Chanos & Francois Pichon & Luis Sordo & José Pulido & María-José Belza & on, 2021. "Preference towards HIV Self-Testing above Other Testing Options in a Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men from Five European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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