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Promoting Regular Testing: An Examination of HIV and STI Testing Routines and Associated Socio-Demographic, Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Factors Among Men Who have Sex with Men in New South Wales, Australia

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Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing rates are amongst the highest in the world among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Australia. However, notable minorities have never tested and many MSM have not tested recently. To examine testing routines and assess covariates of testing, an online survey was conducted among MSM in New South Wales. Five hundred and eighty non-HIV positive MSM (Mean age: 29.33 years) were randomized to answer questions on barriers to testing for HIV or STI. One in five (20.9 %) non-HIV-positive participants had never tested for HIV, 27.2 % had no HIV testing routines, 22.8 % had a moderate HIV testing routines, and 29.1 % had strong HIV testing routines. Similar patterning was observed for STI testing. In multivariate analyses participants’ knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were moderately related to HIV and/or STI testing routines and some associations were specific to either HIV or STI testing or to particular routines. Findings highlight that multiple social-cognitive factors each play a role in explaining HIV and STI testing among MSM. To effectively promote regular testing in MSM, programs face the challenge of having to address a range of hurdles, rather than a few major obstacles.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and ACON for their participation in the Study Advisory Committee. The study was financially supported by the HIV and Related Programs Unit, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Social Research in Health, The University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus, John Goodsell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Philippe C. G. Adam & John B. F. de Wit

  2. Institute for Prevention and Social Research, Vaals, The Netherlands

    Philippe C. G. Adam

  3. Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    John B. F. de Wit

  4. New South Wales Sexually Transmissible Infections Programs Unit, Southeast Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Christopher P. Bourne

  5. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Christopher P. Bourne

  6. HIV/AIDS and Related Programs Unit, Southeast Sydney Local Health District, NSW, Sydney, Australia

    Douglas Knox & Julia Purchas

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  1. Philippe C. G. Adam
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Correspondence to Philippe C. G. Adam.

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Adam, P.C.G., de Wit, J.B.F., Bourne, C.P. et al. Promoting Regular Testing: An Examination of HIV and STI Testing Routines and Associated Socio-Demographic, Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Factors Among Men Who have Sex with Men in New South Wales, Australia. AIDS Behav 18, 921–932 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0733-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0733-z

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