Influencing factors of COVID-19 epidemic on the utilization of Human immunodeficiency virus testing among men who have sex with men

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the utilization of HIV testing services and related influencing factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) on COVID-19. Methods From September to November 2020, an electronic questionnaire survey was conducted on MSM in the AIDS Vct of Longhua CDC and the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, The rank sum test was used to compare the changes in the utilization of HIV testing services in different situations of various factors, and ordinal multinomial logistic regression model was established to analyze the influencing factors of the utilization of HIV testing services. Results A total of 30.4% MSM were reported reduction in the use of HIV testing services. Logistic regression analysis showed that highly panic of COVID-19 reducing the frequency of anal sex (OR=0.056, 95% CI 0.021-0.150, P < 0.001), being advised not going to testing agency (OR=0.538, 95% CI 0.297-0.975, P=0.041), and being infected of COVID-19 (OR=21.979, 95% CI 4.369-110.559, P < 0.001) had higher chance of reduction in the used of HIV testing services. Conclusion The HIV testing service utilization is decreased in MSM during COVID-19. It is necessary to pay more attention to this convenience when formulating and implementing epidemic prevention and control measures.