CDC-funded HIV testing, HIV positivity, and linkage to HIV medical care in non-health care settings among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in the United States

Abstract

In the United States, HIV infection disproportionately affects young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, aged 13-24 years (collectively referred to as YMSM), specifically black YMSM. Knowledge of HIV status is the first step for timely and essential prevention and treatment services. Because YMSM are disproportionately affected by HIV, the number of CDC-funded HIV testing events, overall and newly diagnosed HIV positivity, and linkage to HIV medical care among YMSM in non-health care settings were examined from 61 health department jurisdictions. Differences by age and race/ethnicity were analyzed. Additionally, trends in number of HIV testing events and newly diagnosed HIV positivity were examined from 2011 to 2015. In 2015, 42,184 testing events were conducted among YMSM in non-health care settings; this represents only 6% of tests in non-health care settings. Overall and newly diagnosed HIV positivity was 2.8% and 2.1%, respectively, with black/African-American YMSM being disproportionately affected (5.6% for overall; 4% for newly diagnosed); 71% of YMSM were linked within 90 days. The newly diagnosed HIV positivity among YMSM decreased from 2.8% in 2011 to 2.4% in 2015, and the number of newly diagnosed YMSM also decreased. Further targeted testing efforts among YMSM are needed to identify undiagnosed YMSM, specifically black YMSM.

Keywords: HIV; diagnoses; linkage; testing; young men who have sex with men.

Figure 1.

HIV testing events and percentages of HIV positivity and newly diagnosed YMSM, aged 13–24 years, in non-health care settings, 2011–2015. Note: Number of newly diagnosed YMSM were 1058 in 2011, 1198 in 2012, 1136 in 2013, 1116 in 2014, and 997 in 2015. Prior to 2014, HIV testing events were defined as records having data on test technology or a test result. In the 2015 data, HIV testing events are defined as records having data on test result. The old definition was used for trends to have a consistent definition of HIV testing events across all years.