Journal Article

Willingness of Chinese Men Who Have Sex With Men to Use Smartphone-Based Electronic Readers for HIV Self-testing: Web-Based Cross-sectional Study

Marley, Gifty, Yu, Rongbin, Zhang, Ye, Li, Jianjun, Tang, Weiming, Fu, Gengfeng, Tucker, Joseph D

2021

Overview

The need for strategies to encourage user-initiated reporting of results after HIV self-testing (HIVST) persists. Smartphone-based electronic readers (SERs) have been shown capable of reading diagnostics results accurately in point-of-care diagnostics and could bridge the current gaps between HIVST and linkage to care. Our study aimed to assess the willingness of Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Jiangsu province to use an SER for HIVST through a web-based cross-sectional study. From February to April 2020, we conducted a convenience web-based survey among Chinese MSM by using a pretested structured questionnaire. Survey items were adapted from previous HIVST feasibility studies and modified as required. Prior to answering reader-related questions, participants watched a video showcasing a prototype SER. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis, chi-squared test, and multivariable logistic regression. P values less than .05 were deemed statistically significant. Of 692 participants, 369 (53.3%) were aged 26-40 years, 456 (65.9%) had ever self-tested for HIV, and 493 (71.2%) were willing to use an SER for HIVST. Approximately 98% (483/493) of the willing participants, 85.3% (459/538) of ever self-tested and never self-tested, and 40% (46/115) of unwilling participants reported that SERs would increase their HIVST frequency. Engaging in unprotected anal intercourse with regular partners compared to consistently using condoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.04, 95% CI 1.19-7.74) increased the odds of willingness to use an SER for HIVST. Participants who had ever considered HIVST at home with a partner right before sex compared to those who had not (AOR 2.99, 95% CI 1.13-7.90) were also more willing to use an SER for HIVST. Playing receptive roles during anal intercourse compared to playing insertive roles (AOR 0.05, 95% CI 0.02-0.14) was associated with decreased odds of being willing to use an SER for HIVST. The majority of the participants (447/608, 73.5%) preferred to purchase readers from local Centers of Disease Control and Prevention offices and 51.2% (311/608) of the participants were willing to pay less than US $4.70 for a reader device. The majority of the Chinese MSM, especially those with high sexual risk behaviors, were willing to use an SER for HIVST. Many MSM were also willing to self-test more frequently for HIV with an SER. Further research is needed to ascertain the diagnostic and real-time data-capturing capacity of prototype SERs during HIVST.

• Publisher: Gunther Eysenbach MD MPH, Associate Professor,JMIR Publications
• Subject: Accuracy / Anal intercourse / Asian cultural groups / China / Compatible hardware / Condoms / COVID-19 / Cross-Sectional Studies / Diagnostic tests / Disease control / Disease prevention / Electronics / Feasibility / Gays & lesbians / HIV / HIV Infections - diagnosis / HIV Infections - prevention & control / Homosexuality, Male / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Infectious diseases / Internet / Light emitting diodes / Male / Medical diagnosis / Medical laboratories / Medical tests / Men who have sex with men / Mens health / Original Paper / Polls & surveys / Prototypes / Quantitative analysis / Questionnaires / Reading / Risk behavior / Scanners / Sexual and Gender Minorities / Sexual behavior / Sexual intercourse / Sexual orientation / Smartphone / Smartphones / Statistical analysis / Willingness to pay