The Impact of Rapid HIV Home Test Use with Sexual Partners on Subsequent Sexual Behavior Among Men Who have Sex with Men

• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-013-0497-x
• Publication Date: 2013-05-08T03:28:14Z
• Authors: Iván C. Balán; Alex Carballo-Dié...; Timothy Frasca; Curtis Dolezal; Mobolaji Ibitoye
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Sexual Behavior; Decision Making; HIV Infections; Condoms; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 5. Gender equality; Surveys and Questionnaires; Humans; Mass Screening; Homosexuality, Male; Negotiating; Middle Aged; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health; Self Care; Sexual Partners; Socioeconomic Factors; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Risk Reduction Behavior; Follow-Up Studies

This study explores the sexual behavior of 27 men who have sex with men (MSM) who regularly engage in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), in the context of HIV home test (HT) use with potential sex partners. Participants were given 16 HT kits to use over 3 months. Among 40 sexual occasions following HIV-negative HT results, there were 25 UAI occasions (16 based on not typically using condoms and nine on HT results), 15 occasions in which condoms were used, and three in which sex did not occur. In the seven occasions where a potential partner received HIV-positive HT results, the sexual encounter ended. Almost all participants encountered potential partners who refused HT. Over half of these participants ended sexual encounters when HT was refused, perceiving these partners as HIV-positive or too high risk. Some participants reported that HT use heightened their awareness of HIV risk and their commitment to reducing it.