TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring repeat HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, South Africa
AU - Sieglera, Aaron J.
AU - Sullivan, Patrick S.
AU - De Voux, Alex
AU - Phaswana-Mafuya, Nancy
AU - Bekker, Linda Gail
AU - Baral, Stefan D.
AU - Winskell, Kate
AU - Kose, Zamakayise
AU - Wirtz, Andrea L.
AU - Brown, Ben
AU - Stephenson, Rob
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2015/2/1
Y1 - 2015/2/1
N2 - Despite the high prevalence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) - and the general adult population - in South Africa, there is little data regarding the extent to which MSM seek repeat testing for HIV. This study explores reported histories of HIV testing, and the rationales for test seeking, among a purposive sample of 34 MSM in two urban areas of South Africa. MSM participated in activity-based in-depth interviews that included a timeline element to facilitate discussion. Repeat HIV testing was limited among participants, with three-quarters having two or fewer lifetime HIV tests, and over one-third of the sample having one or fewer lifetime tests. For most repeat testers, the time gap between their HIV tests was greater than the one-year interval recommended by national guidelines. Analysis of the reasons for seeking HIV testing revealed several types of rationale. The reasons for a first HIV test were frequently onetime occurrences, such as a requirement prior to circumcision, or motivations likely satisfied by a single HIV test. For MSM who reported repeat testing at more timely intervals, the most common rationale was seeking test results with a sex partner. Results indicate a need to shift HIV test promotion messaging and programming for MSM in South Africa away from a one-off model to one that frames HIV testing as a repeated, routine health maintenance behavior.
AB - Despite the high prevalence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) - and the general adult population - in South Africa, there is little data regarding the extent to which MSM seek repeat testing for HIV. This study explores reported histories of HIV testing, and the rationales for test seeking, among a purposive sample of 34 MSM in two urban areas of South Africa. MSM participated in activity-based in-depth interviews that included a timeline element to facilitate discussion. Repeat HIV testing was limited among participants, with three-quarters having two or fewer lifetime HIV tests, and over one-third of the sample having one or fewer lifetime tests. For most repeat testers, the time gap between their HIV tests was greater than the one-year interval recommended by national guidelines. Analysis of the reasons for seeking HIV testing revealed several types of rationale. The reasons for a first HIV test were frequently onetime occurrences, such as a requirement prior to circumcision, or motivations likely satisfied by a single HIV test. For MSM who reported repeat testing at more timely intervals, the most common rationale was seeking test results with a sex partner. Results indicate a need to shift HIV test promotion messaging and programming for MSM in South Africa away from a one-off model to one that frames HIV testing as a repeated, routine health maintenance behavior.
KW - HIV testing
KW - MSM
KW - Qualitative
KW - South Africa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84920931267&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84920931267&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2014.947914
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2014.947914
M3 - Article
C2 - 25134823
AN - SCOPUS:84920931267
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 27
SP - 229
EP - 234
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - 2
ER -