Prevalence of HIV Testing and Associated Factors among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Bangkok, Thailand
Possawat Vutthikraivit MD*, Buncha Lertnimitr MD*, Piyawat Chalardsakul MD*, Worarachanee Imjaijitt MA**, Phunlerd Piyaraj MD***
Affiliation : * Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand ** Office of Research and Development, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine and Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand *** Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Without the safety and effective vaccine for HIV, the HIV voluntary counseling testing (VCT) has been documented
as a central component of comprehensive HIV prevention strategies targeting individual risk reduction by modified high risk
behaviors. However, the coverage of HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) is suboptimal. Moreover, the
information regarding to factors associated with HIV testing among young Thai MSM are limited and not well understood.
Objective : This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with HIV testing among young MSM in
Bangkok, Thailand.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangkok. Descriptive statistics were presented with crude-
and adjusted-odds ratios with 95% confidence interval and the logistic regression models were used to identify factors
associated with prior HIV testing.
Results : Fifty-six participants were enrolled into study and 51.8% of men previously had an HIV test. After adjusting for
potential confounders, logistic regression revealed that older age was positively associated with HIV testing (AOR = 14.4,
95% CI 1.88-111.22) while perceived at low risk for HIV infection was inversely association with HIV testing (AOR = 0.1,
95% CI 0.02-0.94).
Conclusion : Young MSM in Thailand are at risk for HIV infection and uptake of HIV testing is suboptimal. Understanding
the motivators and barriers to HIV testing are essential to planning and improving the effective HIV prevention interventions-
relevance to HIV-serostatus.
Keywords : VCT, HIV testing, Young MSM, Thailand
