TY - JOUR
T1 - HIV testing behaviors of a cohort of HIV-positive racial/ethnic minority YMSM
AU - Phillips, Gregory
AU - Hightow-Weidman, Lisa B.
AU - Arya, Monisha
AU - Fields, Sheldon D.
AU - Halpern-Felsher, Bonnie
AU - Outlaw, Angulique Y.
AU - Wohl, Amy R.
AU - Hidalgo, Julia
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1007/s10461-012-0193-2
DO - 10.1007/s10461-012-0193-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 22555382
AN - SCOPUS:84868505106
SN - 1090-7165
VL - 16
SP - 1917
EP - 1925
JO - AIDS and Behavior
JF - AIDS and Behavior
IS - 7
ER -
