Playing and Never Testing: Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Among App-Using MSM in Southeast Asia

Sex Transm Dis. 2017 Jul;44(7):406-411. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000624.

Abstract

Little is known about mobile application (app)-based behavior of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Thailand. A cross-sectional online assessment of app users in Bangkok found that more than a quarter have never tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 1 in 3 never tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI). STI testing patterns and HIV testing frequency were highly associated with each other in multinomial logistic regression. In the midst of an escalating epidemic where HIV incidence among MSM is highest in Asia, apps can serve to engage those least likely to be reached by traditional methods of recruitment and outreach in Thailand.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Surveys
  • Homosexuality, Male* / psychology
  • Homosexuality, Male* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / psychology
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data*
  • Mobile Applications / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / psychology
  • Thailand / epidemiology
  • Unsafe Sex / psychology
  • Unsafe Sex / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult