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HIV and STI Testing and Related Factors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Estonia

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Abstract

HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Estonia are low. We collected data from 265 MSM in a national, online survey. Lifetime HIV testing was related to risky sexual behaviors and contacts with health care services, while lifetime STI testing was related only to contacts with health care services. In addition, some personal values were significant predictors of testing. For example, high achievement (personal success through demonstrating competence according to social standards) had a negative impact on lifetime HIV testing, and high interpersonal conformity (avoiding upsetting others) had a negative impact on lifetime STI testing. The results demonstrate the need to develop gay-friendly health services and to recognize the role of personal values and individual differences in values when designing attractive interventions to increase HIV/STI testing rates among MSM.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the following individuals: Juta Teller for help in designing the web-based questionnaire, Julia Hristojeva and Julia Vinckler for their help in adapting the Russian version of the questionnaire, Rain Uusen and Aare Raudsepp for their input in questionnaire development, Tanel Kreek in developing promotional materials and Linda A. Lilly and Cara Mangine for editing the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by the National Institute for Health Development, Estonia, from the Estonian Research Council Health Promotion Research Programme TerVE (Grant Number 3.2.1002.11-0002) and the National Health Plan for 2009–2020, and University of Tartu, Estonia, Personal Research Funding No. PUT78.

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Correspondence to Kristi Rüütel.

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The study was approved by the Tallinn Medical Research Ethics Committee and has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Rüütel, K., Parker, R.D., Lõhmus, L. et al. HIV and STI Testing and Related Factors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Estonia. AIDS Behav 20, 2275–2285 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1313-1

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