Correlates of HIV and HCV risk and testing among Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese men who have sex with men and other at-risk men.

Abstract

Asian Americans are one of the more under-researched groups in the United States. This holds true with regard to research on risk assessment, screening, and testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C (HCV). Here, we address that lack by exploring correlates of risk and testing for the two diseases among Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese men who have sex with men (MSM) and other at-risk men in the San Francisco Bay Area. We do so by analyzing findings from the study of a community-based prevention program, Project 3-3-3 (P333), designed to address the often comorbid conditions of substance abuse, HIV infection, and HCV infection among underserved and high-risk Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese adults, most of whom are MSM. A risk-behavior survey completed at preintervention identified risk factors related to HIV, HCV, and substance use among this population (n = 273). The study of survey data identifies and distinguishes between correlates of HIV and HCV testing. Among our findings, significant differences were found between Asian ethnic subpopulation groups with respect to number of sexual partners (p = .007), and HIV testing rates comparing MSM and heterosexual men differed significantly (p < .002). Those who spoke English at home were more likely to be tested for HIV (p < .008). With HCV testing, the number of partners was positively correlated to getting tested (p < .047), and Filipino men were significantly more likely to get tested for HCV than Chinese men (p < .022).