“We Deserve Better!”: Perceptions of HIV Testing Campaigns Among Black and Latino MSM in New York City

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Abstract

<p class="first" id="P1">In 2014, Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men (BLMSM) comprised 64.1% of HIV diagnoses among MSM in the U.S. Routine HIV testing allows earlier diagnosis, linkage to care, and improved health outcomes. HIV testing campaigns may increase HIV awareness and testing behaviors, but perceptions of these campaigns by BLMSM have been understudied. We explored perceptions of HIV testing campaigns with BLMSM in New York City (NYC) to inform campaign strategies that target BLMSM for HIV testing. Using respondent-driven sampling methods, we conducted semi-structured interviews from 2011 to 2012 with BLMSM in NYC who participated in a larger HIV research study. Interview responses from 108 participants were examined for main themes using computer-assisted thematic analyses. The four main themes identified were that HIV testing campaigns should: (1) use non-stereotypical messages and images on the basis of race and sexuality, (2) use non-gay identified images, (3) be maximally inclusive and visible, and (4) raise risk perception of HIV. These findings can inform future campaigns for strengthening HIV testing among BLMSM in support of earlier diagnosis, linkage to care, and reduced disparities. </p>

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Late diagnosis of HIV infection: epidemiological features, consequences and strategies to encourage earlier testing.

Caroline Sabin, Antonella Monforte, Enrico Girardi (2007)

A substantial proportion of HIV-infected individuals do not present for HIV testing until late in infection; these individuals are often ill, have a high mortality risk, and are less likely to respond to treatment when initiated. Furthermore, late presentation means that opportunities to reduce onward transmission, either by reducing high-risk behaviours or by reducing an individual's infectivity, are missed. The proportion of HIV-infected individuals who present late has remained relatively stable over the past decade, despite several attempts to encourage earlier diagnosis. Late presenters tend to be those at lower perceived risk of infection, those who are not routinely offered HIV testing, and are often from marginalized groups. Strategies that encourage earlier testing, including routine HIV testing in healthcare settings where high-risk individuals attend frequently, the availability of HIV testing services in non-medical settings, and partner notification schemes or peer-led projects to encourage high-risk individuals to attend for testing, may all increase the proportion of HIV-infected individuals who are aware of their HIV status, thus helping to control the spread of the epidemic. This review summarizes recent evidence on the epidemiology of late presentation and its impact on clinical progression, and describes several key strategies that may encourage earlier diagnosis.

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A 10-year systematic review of HIV/AIDS mass communication campaigns: Have we made progress?

Seth Noar, Philip Palmgreen, Melissa Chabot … (2015)

The purpose of the current study was to conduct a 10-year systematic review of HIV/AIDS mass communication campaigns focused on sexual behavior, HIV testing, or both (1998-2007) and to compare the results with the last comprehensive review of such campaigns, conducted by Myhre and Flora (2000). A comprehensive search strategy yielded 38 HIV/AIDS campaign evaluation articles published in peer-reviewed journals, representing 34 distinct campaign efforts conducted in 23 countries. The articles were coded on a variety of campaign design and evaluation dimensions by two independent coders. Results indicated that compared with the previous systematic review (1986-1998 period), campaigns increasingly have employed the following strategies: (1) targeted defined audiences developed through audience segmentation procedures; (2) designed campaign themes around behavior change (rather than knowledge change); (3) used behavioral theories; (4) achieved high message exposure; (5) used stronger research designs for outcome evaluation; and (6) included measures of behavior (or behavioral intentions) in outcome assessments. In addition, an examination of 10 campaign efforts that used more rigorous quasi-experimental designs revealed that the majority (8 of 10) demonstrated effects on behavior change or behavioral intentions. Despite these positive developments, most HIV/AIDS campaigns continue to use weak (i.e., preexperimental) outcome evaluation designs. Implications of these results for improved design, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS campaign efforts are discussed.