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HIV Testing Behaviors of a Cohort of HIV-Positive Racial/Ethnic Minority YMSM

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Abstract

The HIV epidemic in the United States has disproportionately affected young racial/ethnic minority men who have sex with men (YMSM). However, HIV testing rates among young men of color remain low. Within this sample of racial/ethnic minority YMSM (n = 363), the first HIV test was a median of 2 years after men who have sex with men sexual debut. Individuals with less than 1 year between their first negative and first positive HIV test were significantly more likely to identify the reason for their first negative test as being sick (OR = 2.99; 95 % CI 1.23–7.27). This may suggest that these YMSM may have experienced symptoms of acute HIV infection. Of major concern is that many YMSM in our study tested positive for HIV on their first HIV test. Given recommendations for at least annual HIV testing, our findings reveal that medical providers YMSM need to know the importance of regular testing.

Resumen

La epidemia de VIH en los Estados Unidos ha afectado desproporcionadamente a hombres jóvenes de minorías raciales y étnicas que tienen sexo con hombres (JHSH). Sin embargo, las tasas de pruebas de VIH entre jóvenes de color siguen siendo bajas. Dentro de esta muestra de minorías raciales y étnicas JHSH (n = 363), la primera prueba de VIH fue un promedio de 2 años después debut sexual de HSH. Individuos con menos de un año entre su primera negativa y primer VIH positivo fueron significativamente más probabilidades de identificar la razón para su primera prueba nunca como enfermos (OR = 2.99; 95 % CI 1.23–7.27). Esto puede sugerir que estos JHSH puede han experimentado síntomas de infección de VIH. De las principales preocupaciones es que muchos JHSH en nuestro estudio prueba positiva del VIH en su primera prueba de VIH. Teniendo en cuenta las recomendaciones para la prueba de VIH al menos anual, nuestros hallazgos revelan que proveedores médicos JHSH necesitan saber la importancia de las pruebas regulares.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2100-W Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC, 20037, USA

    Gregory Phillips II & Julia Hidalgo

  2. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Lisa B. Hightow-Weidman

  3. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Monisha Arya

  4. Florida International University—College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL, USA

    Sheldon D. Fields

  5. University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Bonnie Halpern-Felsher

  6. Wayne State University, Horizons Project, Detroit, MI, USA

    Angulique Y. Outlaw

  7. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Amy R. Wohl

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  1. Gregory Phillips II
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Correspondence to Gregory Phillips II.

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Phillips, G., Hightow-Weidman, L.B., Arya, M. et al. HIV Testing Behaviors of a Cohort of HIV-Positive Racial/Ethnic Minority YMSM. AIDS Behav 16, 1917–1925 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0193-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0193-2

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