Using an HIV Self-test Kit to Test a Partner: Attitudes and Preferences Among High-Risk Populations.

For those most at risk of contracting HIV, new strategies for preventing transmission and increasing testing are needed. As part of a multi-site, randomized, controlled trial, we explored attitudes and preferences among 272 HIV-negative men who have sex with men and HIV-negative transgender women using an HIV self-testing (HIVST) kit to test partners. Less than one quarter had previously self-tested with HIVST kits (21.7%) and few had partner-tested (4.8%). Most preferred gum swab (96%) over fingerprick tests (69%), but would prefer a blood test if it gave results for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (86%). Five percent reported difficulties performing the test, four percent with storage, and 26% with portability. Ninety-three percent reported likelihood of using HIVST to test partners in future, but only 3% were willing to pay the current price. Efforts to improve HIVST uptake should focus on incorporating testing for other STIs, reducing test kit size, and reducing cost.

RESUMEN: Se necesitan nuevas estrategias para prevenir la transmisión del VIH e incrementar el testeo para aquellos con mayor riesgo al contagio. Como parte de un ensayo controlado aleatorio (ECA) multicentrico, exploramos las actitudes y preferencias entre 272 hombres VIH-negativos que tienen sexo con hombres y mujeres transgenero VIH-negativos que utilizaron kits del auto-test para el VIH (HIVST) para testear a sus parejas. Menos de una cuarta parte de los participantes había utilizado HIVST para auto-testearse (21.7%), y solo pocos para testear a sus parejas (4.8%) antes del comienzo del estudio. El hisopo bucal fue preferido (96%) sobre una prueba con un pinchazo de sangre (69%) por la mayoría de los participantes pero estos preferirían la prueba de sangre si puedieran obtener resultados para otras enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS) (86%). Cinco por ciento reportó problemas con el uso de la prueba, 4% con el almacenamiento, y el 26% con la portabilidad. Noventa y tres por ciento reportó que utilizarían HIVST para testear a sus parejas en el futuro, pero solo 3% estaba dispuesto a pagar el precio actual. Los futuros esfuerzos para mejorar la adopción del HIVST deberían enfocarse en incorporar otras pruebas de ETS, en reducir el tamaño del kit y en reducir los costos.

Transgender Women's Experiences Using a Home HIV-Testing Kit for Partner-Testing.

HIV partner-testing (PT) may represent a unique and empowering HIV prevention strategy for groups that face structural and institutional barriers to HIV testing and care, including transgender women. We report on in-depth interviews (IDIs) with N = 10 transgender women who used HIV self-test kits for three months to screen potential sexual partners in a randomized controlled trial (iSUM; "I'll Show You Mine") that took place in New York City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Participants were assigned to intervention (supplied with 10 self-test kits immediately) or control groups (received 6 test kits after 3 months). We conducted IDIs with the first N = 10 transgender women to enroll in the intervention group after three months in the study (after participants used kits with partners) to understand their experiences. Themes discussed in IDIs included: partners' reaction to HIV testing, participants' reactions to partners' test results or refusal to test, partners' own reaction to their test results, and decision-making around test use. Data were independently analyzed by two coders. Overwhelmingly, participants' experiences with PT was positive. Participants reported kits were convenient and acceptable to most partners. Transgender women felt that PT could pose additional risk for them; one woman experienced violence related to kit use. Furthermore, the availability of kits appeared to encourage participants and their partners to think about their HIV status and, in some cases, modify sexual behavior. Work suggests that HIV PT could be a viable risk-reduction strategy for transgender women.

Few Aggressive or Violent Incidents are Associated with the Use of HIV Self-tests to Screen Sexual Partners Among Key Populations.

Men who have sex with men and transgender women who had multiple sexual partners in the prior 3 months participated in ISUM, a randomized, controlled trial of self- and partner-testing in New York City and San Juan, PR. Only 2% of screened participants were ineligible to enroll due to anticipating they would find it very hard to avoid or handle violence. The intervention group received free rapid HIV self-test kits. During the trial, 114 (88%) of intervention participants who were assessed at follow-up used self-tests with at least one potential partner. Only 6% of participants who asked a partner in person to test reported that at least one of their partners got physically violent, some in the context of sex work. In total, 16 (2%) partners reacted violently. Post-trial, only one participant reported finding it very hard to handle violence, and none found it very hard to avoid potential violence.

Use of Rapid HIV Self-Test to Screen Potential Sexual Partners: Results of the ISUM Study.

ISUM ("I'll show you mine") was a randomized controlled trial in which 272 transgender women and men who have sex with men in New York, NY (NYC) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) were assigned to an intervention group (n = 136), in which they had access to free HIV self-testing (ST) kits, or to a control group (n = 136). The trial aimed to determine whether the intervention group would use ST to screen sexual partners and have fewer condomless anal intercourse (CAI) occasions with serodiscordant or unknown status partners than the control group. The intervention group had on average 10 (32%) fewer CAI occasions; though clinically relevant, this difference fell short of statistical significance (p = .08). In NYC (n = 166) intervention participants had significantly fewer CAI occasions, whereas in SJU (n = 106) they reported non-significantly more CAI occasions. Two devastating hurricanes hit SJU during the study and may have impacted results in unmeasured ways.

Use of HIV Self-Testing Kits to Screen Clients Among Transgender Female Sex Workers in New York and Puerto Rico.

Transgender female sex workers (TFSW) are highly affected by HIV, with a global prevalence of 27%. HIV self-testing (HIVST) to screen sexual partners has helped men who have sex with men and female sex workers make informed sexual decisions and avoid HIV exposure. This is the first report on TFSW's experiences screening clients using HIVST. Ten TFSW were each given ten HIVST kits and returned after 3 months to complete an online questionnaire and undergo an interview. Eight of them reported using HIVST with potential partners. Among fifty potential partners who were asked in person to test, 42 (84%) were clients. Thirty-four out of fifty (68%) accepted and 16 (32%) refused. Very few violent incidents occurred, and participants felt empowered by offering HIVST to others. Nevertheless, HIVST market cost was prohibitive for future use. HIVST use with clients could be feasible for TFSW if the cost were lowered or subsidized.

Information and Motivation Predict HIV-Serostatus Among a Population of High-Risk Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex with Men.

Two constructs from the information-motivation-behavioral skills model were used to predict HIV-serostatus among a sample of men and transgender women who have sex with men. Hypotheses were that lower levels of HIV knowledge and lower levels of motivation to remain HIV-negative would be associated with an increased likelihood of receiving a positive HIV test result at a study eligibility-screening session. Results of a backwards stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that lower levels of HIV knowledge, lower levels of motivation to remain HIV-negative, lower levels of education, and identifying as Hispanic/Latinx were associated with greater odds of receiving a positive HIV test result. These findings are consistent with the broader HIV-prevention literature that demonstrates that information and motivation are fundamental determinants of HIV preventive behavior. This work has implications for informing the development and improvement of HIV-prevention interventions.

Limited Knowledge and Lack of Screening for Acute HIV Infection at Primary Care Clinics in High-Prevalence Communities of New York City.

Diagnosis and treatment of acute HIV infection (AHI) is crucial for ending the HIV epidemic. Individuals with AHI, who have high viral loads and often are unaware of their infection, are more likely to transmit HIV to others than those with chronic infection. In preparation for an educational intervention on AHI in primary health care settings in high HIV-prevalence areas of New York City, 22 clinic directors, 313 clinic providers, and 220 patients were surveyed on their knowledge and awareness of the topic from 2012-2015. Basic HIV knowledge was high among all groups while knowledge of AHI was partial among providers and virtually absent among patients. Inadequate knowledge about this crucial phase of HIV may be impeding timely identification of cases in the primary care setting.

High Substance Use and HIV Risk Behavior Among Young Argentine Men Who Have Sex with Men.

In the United States young men who have sex with men have higher rates of substance use, higher HIV incidence, and less frequent HIV testing than their heterosexual counterparts and older MSM. Less is known about comparable populations in Latin America. As part of an epidemiological study, MSM were recruited through Respondent Driven Sampling in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina and answered a computerized behavioral survey. From the total of 500 MSM enrolled, a sub-sample of 233 aged 18-25 was analyzed. The sample was concentrated among lower socioeconomic strata, and only 16% identified as gay. Nearly half reported male, female, and transvestite sexual partners. Reported substance use was widespread ranging from 61% for marijuana to 20% for pasta base (cocaine sulfate). Seventy percent of the sample had never been tested for HIV infection; 3% tested positive for HIV and 8% for syphilis during the study.

Mixed-Method Evaluation of Social Media-Based Tools and Traditional Strategies to Recruit High-Risk and Hard-to-Reach Populations into an HIV Prevention Intervention Study.

Men who have sex with men and transgender women are hard-to-reach populations for research. Social media-based tools may overcome certain barriers in accessing these groups and are being tested in an ongoing study exploring HIV home-test kit use to reduce risk behavior. We analyzed pre-screening responses about how volunteers learned about the study (n = 896) and demographic data from eligible participants who came for an initial study visit (n = 216) to determine the strengths and weaknesses of recruitment strategies. Social media-based strategies resulted in the highest number of individuals screened (n = 444, 26% eligible). Dating sites/apps reached large numbers of eligible participants. White-Hispanics and African-Americans were more likely to be recruited through personal contacts; community events successfully reached Hispanic volunteers. Incorporating recruitment queries into pre-screening forms can help modify recruitment strategies for greater efficacy and efficiency. Findings suggest that recruitment strategies need to be tailored to reach specific target populations.

Fingerprick Versus Oral Swab: Acceptability of Blood-Based Testing Increases If Other STIs Can Be Detected.

Self-testing has untapped potential as a strategy to improve access to HIV testing and to increase testing frequency. User acceptability of self-administered oral swab HIV tests is consistently high in both hypothetical and actual-use studies. We explored preferences for oral versus fingerprick HIV self-tests among men who have sex with men with a high risk profile. Participants indicated greater likelihood of using an oral swab over a blood-based test, notwithstanding lower price or quicker results from the latter. However, the likelihood of using an HIV fingerprick test substantially increased if it also offered information on other sexually transmitted infections.

Lessons for Rectal Microbicide Development From an Acceptability Trial of a Placebo Gel Applied Prior to Receptive Anal Intercourse.

Rectal microbicides, formulated as a gel to be applied before and/or after intercourse, are promising HIV prevention agents and are now in Phase II trials. However, both an optimal formulation and a practical delivery system are needed to ensure that the target population will use the product once efficacy is demonstrated. The precise dynamics of lubricant application by gay and bisexual men who practice anal sex and the qualities they seek in these products are underexplored. As part of a Phase I microbicide acceptability and adherence study conducted in one Puerto Rican and two continental U.S. cities, we recruited 124 young men who have sex with men (YMSM) with a history of unprotected receptive anal intercourse (RAI) and provided them with 40 rectal applicators containing a placebo gel to use prior to RAI during a 12-week period as a proxy for an eventual rectal microbicide. Ninety-five YMSM completed the trial. Their varied preferences as to product viscosity, durability, residue, and mode of application provide important lessons for the design of a product that will be satisfactory to users. Despite many reservations, the participants used the product frequently and found ways to overcome a range of obstacles. A successful rectal microbicide product may need to be presented in a range of viscosities to attract a broad client base.

Acceptability of Three Novel HIV Prevention Methods Among Young Male and Transgender Female Sex Workers in Puerto Rico.

Sex workers need HIV-prevention methods they can control and incorporate easily in their work. We studied the acceptability of three methods: HIV self-test use with clients, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and rectal microbicide gel. Four male and eight transgender female (TGF) sex workers in Puerto Rico completed a baseline survey with a quantitative measure of likelihood of use. From them, one male and four TGF also completed a 12-week study of rectal microbicide placebo gel use prior to receptive anal intercourse with male clients and evaluated via qualitative in-depth interviews and follow-up quantitative assessments how each method could be incorporated into their work. Most were interested in a rectal microbicide gel and able to use it covertly with clients. Challenges to using the HIV self-test with clients included the potential for both breach of confidentiality and confronting violent situations. Participants also expressed interest in oral PrEP, but raised concerns about side effects.

Home testing past, present and future: lessons learned and implications for HIV home tests.

The recent approval in the United States of the first rapid home test to diagnose HIV raises questions about its potential use and impact. We reviewed the existing literature on the unassisted use of home tests involving self-collection and testing of biological samples by untrained users-including existing HIV self-testing studies-to shed some light on what can be expected from the availability of the HIV home test. The studies reviewed showed that most participants could properly perform home tests, obtain accurate results, and interpret them-yielding high correlations with laboratory and health-professional performed tests. Users often had trouble performing blood-based tests. Participants generally understood the need to confirm positive test results. Materials accompanying HIV home tests should emphasize symptoms of acute infection and the need for additional testing when recent infection is suspected. Different home-test-based screening modalities, personalized HIV-counseling resources and HIV home test impact evaluation methods should be studied.

The impact of rapid HIV home test use with sexual partners on subsequent sexual behavior among men who have sex with men.

This study explores the sexual behavior of 27 men who have sex with men (MSM) who regularly engage in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), in the context of HIV home test (HT) use with potential sex partners. Participants were given 16 HT kits to use over 3 months. Among 40 sexual occasions following HIV-negative HT results, there were 25 UAI occasions (16 based on not typically using condoms and nine on HT results), 15 occasions in which condoms were used, and three in which sex did not occur. In the seven occasions where a potential partner received HIV-positive HT results, the sexual encounter ended. Almost all participants encountered potential partners who refused HT. Over half of these participants ended sexual encounters when HT was refused, perceiving these partners as HIV-positive or too high risk. Some participants reported that HT use heightened their awareness of HIV risk and their commitment to reducing it.

Attitude and behavior changes among gay and bisexual men after use of rapid home HIV tests to screen sexual partners.

HIV testing can now be self-administered outside clinical settings through the purchase of home testing (HT) kits. Individuals also can use the kits to perform a test on a potential sexual partner prior to intercourse. We provided a 3-month supply of HT kits to men who reported multiple male partners and little or no condom use for anal intercourse. Participants used the test kits with partners in over 100 occasions. At the end of the study, approximately half of the participants described shifts in their attitudes and/or behaviors related to sexual risk. Reported changes included increased awareness of risk, increased discussion of STI/HIV safety measures, changes in partner choice and heightened consciousness of partner thinking. Easy access to HT kits may be a risk-reduction strategy for men with a high risk profile because their regular use could have an impact beyond the specific sexual encounter.

Anticipated and actual reactions to receiving HIV positive results through self-testing among gay and bisexual men.

We explored anticipated and actual reactions to receiving HIV positive results through self-testing with a diverse group of 84 gay and bisexual men in New York City. Grounded Theory was used to investigate these reactions in a two-phase study, one hypothetical, followed by a practical phase in which self-tests were distributed and used. Three major themes emerged when participants were asked about their anticipated reactions to an HIV positive self-test result: managing emotional distress, obtaining HIV medical care, and postponing sexual activity. When participants were asked about their anticipated reactions to a partner's HIV positive self-test result, five themes emerged: provide emotional support; refrain from engaging in sex with casual partner; avoid high-risk sexual activity with both main and casual partners; seek medical services; and obtain a confirmatory test result. Although none of the participants tested positive, seven of their partners did. Participants provided emotional support and linked their partners to support services. The availability of HIV self-testing kits offers potential opportunities to tackle HIV infection among individuals with high-risk practices.

Adherence to rectal gel use among mainly ethnic minority young men who have sex with men during a 3-month placebo gel trial: implications for microbicide research.

To study adherence to product use prior to a Phase I microbicide trial, we recruited young men who have sex with men (YMSM) with a history of unprotected receptive anal intercourse (RAI) and provided them with 40 rectal applicators containing a placebo gel to use prior to RAI during a 12-week period. Ninety-five YMSM completed the trial. Based on a Computer Assisted Self Interview, 83 participants had receptive anal intercourse (RAI) (Median 12 occasions) using gel on 82.4 % of occasions (SD 26.7; 0-100). Based on an interactive voice response system, 88 participants had RAI (Median 10 occasions) using gel on 87.9 % of occasions (SD 20.0; 20-100). By applicator counts the median gel use was 12. Participants showed high adherence to gel use. Those who did not use the product consistently (n = 40) adduced not having it with them (85 %), forgetting to use it (48 %), not wanting to use it (13 %), partner refusal (10 %) and gel messiness (10 %).

Use of a rapid HIV home test prevents HIV exposure in a high risk sample of men who have sex with men.

The study assessed whether at-risk HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM) who never or rarely use condoms and have multiple partners would use a rapid, oral fluid, HIV home test (HT) to screen potential sexual partners. Participants received 16 HT kits, were monitored weekly for 3 months, and then interviewed in depth. Twenty-seven ethnically diverse MSM used HT kits before intercourse with approximately 100 partners in private and public spaces. Testing had high acceptability among ethnic minority participants. Ten tested individuals received HIV-antibody positive results. Seven were potential sexual partners, and three were acquaintances of the participants; six of the ten were unaware of their status. No sexual intercourse took place after positive tests. Very few problems occurred. Most participants strongly desired to continue using HT and to buy it freely. HT use results in detection of previously unknown infections. Making HT available within networks where high-risk sexual practices are common may be a cost-efficient and effective prevention method.

Inner contradictions among men who bareback.

Barebacking, or intentional unprotected anal intercourse when HIV transmission can occur, emerged as a descriptive term in the 1990s, and marked greater acceptance by gay and bisexual men of dispensing with condom use under certain circumstances. In an exploratory study of men who used Internet sites to meet partners and reported recent episodes of barebacking, respondents outlined numerous strategies they deployed to avoid HIV infection instead of universal condom use. However, in interviews many participants acknowledged uneasiness with the flaws in their chosen strategies, and the contradiction between their urgent desire to remain HIV-free and their sexual practices. For some, the dissonance between the conflicting cognitions could be resolved through self-justification, mental compartmentalization, or invincibility beliefs so that barebacking could continue. For this subpopulation, continued reiteration of cognitive-based prevention messages has the potential to reinforce rather than undermine their attachment to inadequate strategies for disease avoidance.

Text Messaging and Disaster Preparedness Aids Engagement, Re-Engagement, Retention, and Communication Among Puerto Rican Participants in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Self-Testing Study After Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

OBJECTIVE: Hurricanes can interrupt communication, exacerbate attrition, and disrupt participant engagement in research. We used text messaging and disaster preparedness protocols to re-establish communication, re-engage participants, and ensure retention in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-test study. METHODS: Participants were given HIV home test kits to test themselves and/or their non-monogamous sexual partners before intercourse. A daily text message-based short message service computer-assisted self-interview (SMS-CASI) tool reminded them to report 3 variables: (1) anal sex without a condom, (2) knowledge of partners' testing history, and (3) proof of partners' testing history. A disaster preparedness protocol was put in place for hurricanes in Puerto Rico. We analyzed 6315 messages from participants (N = 12) active at the time of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Disaster preparedness narratives were assessed. RESULTS: All participants were able to communicate sexual behavior and HIV testing via SMS-CASI within 30 days following María. Some participants (n = 5, 42%) also communicated questions. Re-engagement within 30 days after the hurricane was 100% (second week/89%, third week/100%). Participant re-engagement ranged from 0-16 days (average = 6.4 days). Retention was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Daily SMS-CASI and disaster preparedness protocols helped participant engagement and communication after 2 hurricanes. SMS-CASI responses indicated high participant re-engagement, retention, and well-being.