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. 2023 May;27(5):1716-1725.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-022-03903-2. Epub 2022 Nov 1.

Distribution of HIV Self-tests by Men Who have Sex with Men (MSM) to Social Network Associates

Shilpa N Patel  1 , Pollyanna R Chavez  2 , Craig B Borkowf  1 , Patrick S Sullivan  3 , Akshay Sharma  4 , Ilya Teplinskiy  5 , Kevin P Delaney  1 , Sabina Hirshfield  6 , Laura G Wesolowski  1 , A D McNaghten  1 , Robin J MacGowan  1 ; eSTAMP study group
Affiliations

Distribution of HIV Self-tests by Men Who have Sex with Men (MSM) to Social Network Associates

Shilpa N Patel et al. AIDS Behav. 2023 May.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Internet-recruited gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) were offered HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) after completing baseline, 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up surveys. The surveys asked about the use and distribution of these HIVSTs. Among 995 who reported on their distribution of HIVSTs, 667 (67.0%) distributed HIVSTs to their social network associates (SNAs), which resulted in 34 newly identified HIV infections among 2301 SNAs (1.5%). The main reasons participants reported not distributing HIVSTs included: wanting to use the HIVSTs themselves (74.9%); thinking that their SNAs would get angry or upset if offered HIVSTs (12.5%); or not knowing that they could give the HIVSTs away (11.3%). Self-testing programs can provide multiple HIVSTs and encourage the distribution of HIVST by MSM to their SNAs to increase awareness of HIV status among persons disproportionately affected by HIV.

Hombres gais, bisexuales y otros hombres que indicaron tener contacto sexual con hombres (MSM, por sus siglas en inglés) fueron reclutados por el Internet y se les ofreció autopruebas del VIH (HIVST, por sus siglas en inglés) después de completar una encuestas inicial y encuestas de seguimiento a los 3, 6 y 9 meses. Las encuestas recogieron datos sobre el uso y distribución de estas autopruebas del VIH. De los 995 MSM que indicaron distribuir las autopruebas, 667 (67.0%) distribuyeron las autopruebas a personas en sus redes sociales (SNA, por sus siglas en inglés), resultando en 34 nuevas infecciones por el VIH identificadas entre 2,301 SNA (1.5%). Las razones principales por las que algunos participantes no distribuyeron las autopruebas del VIH incluyen: el deseo de utilizar las autopruebas del VIH para sí mismos (74.9%); pensar que las SNA se enfadarían o molestarían si se les ofreciesen autopruebas del VIH (12.5%); o no saber que podían distribuir las autopruebas del VIH (11.3%). Los programas que proporcionen múltiples autopruebas del VIH podrían alentar la distribución de las autopruebas por parte de los MSM a las SNA para aumentar el conocimento sobre el estado del VIH entre personas afectadas de manera desproporcionada por el VIH.

Keywords: HIV prevention; HIV self-test; Secondary distribution.

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Conflict of interest statement

CDC authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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