The principal objective of this study was to identify the
barriers to testing for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Korea, something
that might prove useful in future studies of this nature.
This study was conducted at gay bars nationwide in Korea.
After considering several offline locations (gay bars) where MSM candidates are
commonly located, random recruitment was performed using time–location
sampling. A total of 944 individuals participated in this survey. A total
sample of 921 cases (23 cases were excluded) was used for analysis. A
self-administered questionnaire measuring the individuals' demographics, human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS knowledge, stigma, phobia, optimism bias,
self-efficacy for condom use, and sexual practices was used.
About 61.8% (N = 569)
of respondents reported having been tested at least once in their lifetime, and
38.9% (N = 358) acknowledged
being tested within the past 12 months. After adjusting for age,
education, and number of partners in a logistic regression analysis, awareness
of testing place [odds ratio (OR) = 4.04], exposure to HIV prevention
campaign (1.54), fear (OR = 1.13), and discrimination toward people
with HIV/AIDS (OR = 0.94) were the main factors associated with HIV
testing.
To accomplish widespread HIV testing for Korean MSM, the
accessibility of testing centers and advertisement of voluntary counseling and
testing to MSM are needed.
Table 2
HIV testing related behavior.
| Characteristics | N | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of partners (past 6 mo) | 0 | 157 | 17.0 |
| 1 | 303 | 32.9 | |
| 2–5 | 325 | 35.3 | |
| 6 and more | 136 | 14.7 | |
| Condom usea (N = 685) (at last sexual encounter) | Yes | 401 | 58.5 |
| No | 284 | 41.5 | |
| Reported STIs | Yes | 103 | 11.2 |
| No | 818 | 88.8 | |
| Reported HIV | Yes | 11 | 1.2 |
| No | 838 | 91 | |
| Not Sure | 72 | 7.8 | |
| Total | 921 | 100.0 |
HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; STI = sexually transmitted infection.
aPersons having had one and more partners in the past 6 months.
Table 4
Factors affecting HIV testing behavior.
| Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| β | OR | β | OR | β | OR | ||
| Age (y) | 19–29 (ref.) | ||||||
| 20–29 | 0.225 | 1.25 | 0.119 | 1.13 | 0.107 | 1.11 | |
| 30–39 | 0.074 | 1.08 | −0.014 | 0.99 | −0.128 | 0.88 | |
| 40–49 | 0.230 | 1.26 | 0.357 | 1.43 | 0.407 | 1.50 | |
| Education | High school and less (ref.) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 y of college | 0.290 | 1.34 | 0.249 | 1.28 | 0.258 | 1.29 | |
| 4 y college and more | 0.285 | 1.33 | 0.100 | 1.11 | 0.063 | 1.07 | |
| Number of partners | 2 and less (ref.) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3–5 | –.133 | 0.88 | −0.177 | 0.84 | −0.216 | 0.81 | |
| 6 and more | 0.490 | 1.63 * | 0.319 | 1.38 | 0.221 | 1.25 | |
| Condom use | No (ref.) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Yes | 0.139 | 1.15 | 0.017 | 1.02 | −0.016 | 0.98 | |
| HIV knowledge | 0.169 | 1.18 * | 0.132 | 1.14 | |||
| Discrimination | −0.074 | 0.93 *** | −0.065 | 0.94 *** | |||
| Fear | 0.120 | 1.13 ** | 0.122 | 1.13 ** | |||
| Condom self-efficacy | 0.064 | 1.07 | 0.053 | 1.06 | |||
| Awareness of testing place | 1.397 | 4.04 *** | |||||
| Exposure to HIV prevention campaigning | 0.433 | 1.54 * | |||||
* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001.
HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; OR = odds ratio; ref. = reference group.
Full article at:
By:
bGraduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
cGraduate School of Health and Social Welfare, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea
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