Abstract
The HIV epidemic in the United States has disproportionately affected young racial/ethnic minority men who have sex with men
(YMSM). However, HIV testing rates among young men of color remain low. Within this sample of racial/ethnic minority YMSM
(n = 363), the first HIV test was a median of 2 years after men who have sex with men sexual debut. Individuals with less
than 1 year between their first negative and first positive HIV test were significantly more likely to identify the reason
for their first negative test as being sick (OR = 2.99; 95 % CI 1.23–7.27). This may suggest that these YMSM may have experienced
symptoms of acute HIV infection. Of major concern is that many YMSM in our study tested positive for HIV on their first HIV
test. Given recommendations for at least annual HIV testing, our findings reveal that medical providers YMSM need to know
the importance of regular testing.
(YMSM). However, HIV testing rates among young men of color remain low. Within this sample of racial/ethnic minority YMSM
(n = 363), the first HIV test was a median of 2 years after men who have sex with men sexual debut. Individuals with less
than 1 year between their first negative and first positive HIV test were significantly more likely to identify the reason
for their first negative test as being sick (OR = 2.99; 95 % CI 1.23–7.27). This may suggest that these YMSM may have experienced
symptoms of acute HIV infection. Of major concern is that many YMSM in our study tested positive for HIV on their first HIV
test. Given recommendations for at least annual HIV testing, our findings reveal that medical providers YMSM need to know
the importance of regular testing.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0193-2
- Authors
- Gregory Phillips II, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2100-W Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20037, USA
- Lisa B. Hightow-Weidman, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Monisha Arya, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Sheldon D. Fields, Florida International University—College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL, USA
- Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Angulique Y. Outlaw, Wayne State University, Horizons Project, Detroit, MI, USA
- Amy R. Wohl, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Julia Hidalgo, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2100-W Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20037, USA
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165