HIV Testing Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men
Summary
Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain a population at heightened risk of HIV infection worldwide. Patterns of testing behaviour are influenced by individual factors such as risk perception, knowledge of testing modalities and apprehensions about confidentiality, as well as by social determinants including stigma, legal environments and access to services. The advent of rapid tests and HIV self-testing has diversified testing options, enabling more discreet and autonomous approaches to diagnosis. Digital platforms and mobile health (mHealth) interventions have further broadened outreach, particularly among younger and harder-to-reach cohorts. However, uptake is uneven: psychosocial barriers such as fear of a positive result, low perceived susceptibility and internalised stigma continue to deter some men from regular testing. Structural factors—including availability of free or subsidised tests, community-based services and sexual health clinics—play a crucial role in facilitating or impeding testing. Comprehensive strategies that combine peer support, targeted messaging, integration of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) counselling and seamless linkage to care are emerging as best practice to achieve timely diagnosis, reduce onward transmission and meet global targets for HIV control by 2030.
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HIV Testing Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men publication trend
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Technical terms
HIV self-testing (HIVST): A process by which individuals collect their own specimens and perform a rapid diagnostic test for HIV in private.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): Antiretroviral medication taken by HIV-negative individuals prior to potential exposure to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV.
Stigma: Negative attitudes or discrimination related to HIV or key populations that discourage individuals from seeking testing and care.
Risk perception: An individual’s subjective assessment of their likelihood of acquiring HIV based on their behaviours and context.
mHealth: The use of mobile devices and applications to deliver health information, support and interventions at scale.
Behavioural intention: A reported likelihood or plan to perform a specific health behaviour, such as undergoing HIV testing.
References
- Examining HIV Testing Coverage and Factors Influencing First-Time Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Zhejiang Province, China: Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Large Internet Survey. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (2024).
- Low Behavioral Intention to Use Any Type of HIV Testing and HIV Self-Testing among Migrant Male Factory Workers Who Are at High Risk of HIV Infection in China: A Secondary Data Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).
- Effects of a Mobile Health Intervention to Promote HIV Self-testing with MSM in China: A Randomized Controlled Trial. AIDS and Behavior (2019).
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