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The Relationship Between Risk Perception and Frequency of HIV Testing Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women, Lima, Peru

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Abstract

HIV infections in Peru are concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW). HIV testing rates among them remain low, delaying entrance into care. We assessed the prevalence of frequent HIV testing (at least every 6 months) and associated factors among 310 MSM and TW who attend sexual health clinics in Lima, Peru, and who reported that they were HIV seronegative or unaware of their status. Only 39% of participants tested frequently, and 22% had never tested; 29% reported that they were at low or no risk for acquiring HIV. Reporting low or no risk for acquiring HIV was associated with frequent testing (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.53, 95% CI 1.13–2.08); those reporting unprotected anal sex were less likely to test frequently (aPR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.87). HIV prevalence was 12% and did not vary by risk perception categories. This at-risk population tests infrequently and may not understand the risk of having unprotected sex.

Resumen

Las infecciones por el VIH en el Perú se concentran entre hombres-que-tienen-sexo-con-hombres (HSH) y mujeres transgénero (MT). El tamizaje de VIH entre ellos se mantiene bajo, retrasando la atención y el cuidado. Se evaluó la prevalencia de “tamizaje frecuente” para VIH (hacerse la prueba al menos cada 6 meses) y factores asociados en 310 HSH/MT que se atendieron en clínicas de salud sexual en Lima, Perú, y reportaron ser VIH-negativo o desconocer su status. Sólo 39% de los participantes reportaron tamizaje frecuente y 22% nunca se realizó una prueba de VIH. 29% reportó sentirse en bajo riesgo o no sentirse en riesgo de adquirir VIH. Reportar bajo o ningún riesgo de contraer VIH estuvo asociado al tamizaje frecuente (razón de prevalencia ajustada [RPa]: 1,53; IC del 95%: 1.13 a 2.8); Reportar sexo anal sin protección disminuye el tamizaje frecuente (RPa: 0,66; IC del 95%: 0,50-0,87). La prevalencia total de VIH fue 12% y no varió según las categorías de percepción de riesgo. Esta población en riesgo no se realiza tamizaje frecuentemente y quizá no comprenden el riesgo de tener sexo sin protección.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI099727-01).The authors express appreciation for the assistance of the PICASSO project staff at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, and the staff of the Epicentro Clinic and Barton MoH Center. We also wish to acknowledge all the participants of the PICASSO Cohort. This article was partially prepared as part of the activities of the Masters in Epidemiologic Research offered jointly by the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) and NAMRU-6, Peru. This program is part of the Grant 2D43 TW007393 ‘‘Peru Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Training Consortium’’, sponsored by the Fogarty International Center of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH/FIC). We wish to acknowledge the support from the University of California, San Francisco’s International Traineeships in AIDS Prevention Studies (US National Institute of Mental Health, R25 MH064712) and from the Starr Foundation Scholarship Fund. The authors are thankful for the support and guidance received from the faculty and fellow students of the program.

Funding

This study was funded by NIH/NIAID R-01 study #1R01AI099727-01.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Sexual Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

    S. K. Vargas & S. R. Leon

  2. Program in Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    K. A. Konda & J. D. Klausner

  3. Center for Healthy Communities, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA

    B. Brown

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    C. Lindan

  5. Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

    K. A. Konda & C. F. Caceres

  6. Laboratorio de Salud Sexual, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo (LID), Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, Lima 31, Peru

    S. K. Vargas

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  1. S. K. Vargas
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Vargas, S.K., Konda, K.A., Leon, S.R. et al. The Relationship Between Risk Perception and Frequency of HIV Testing Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women, Lima, Peru. AIDS Behav 22 (Suppl 1), 26–34 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-2018-9

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