Online HIV Self-Testing For MSM Youths

Online HIV Self-Testing For MSM Youths

Department of Society and Health, and Center of Excellence in Research on Gender, Sexuality and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University

Title of Project:

Bangkok Online HIV Testing For MSMs

Title of Research:

Online HIV Self-Testing For MSM Youths

Research:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thomas Guadamuz

The project on Bangkok Online HIV Testing For MSMs has been started with the objectives as follows; 1) To understand any obstacles and successes including social and cultural factors that have impacts upon online HIV testing among MSMs; 2) To study the perceptions of obstacles, other contributing factors, including behaviors related to online HIV testing and the possibility of providing online HIV testing services; 3) To propose a provision of HIV testing services through online platforms. This project applies online media technologies to facilitate the provision of HIV testing services and allows youths to conduct HIV self-testing at home. According to the data from online questionnaires carried out with 1,394 MSM youths in Bangkok, 87% of them show interest and their readiness to do HIV self-testing. In the project, a trial was conducted by sending an HIV self-test kit to the volunteers with staff to help provide them with consultation online via a video call throughout their self-testing process. The HIV self-test kit involves the 4th generation Alere™ HIV Combo test and Dried Blood Spot (DBS), which is used for affirming their test results. After completing the self-test, the volunteers will submit their DBS to the Clinical Research Center, Department of Medical Science, Ministry of Public Health Thailand, to obtain a clinical verification based on HIV PCR LAB testing. According to an ongoing monitoring of the volunteers’s HIV self-testing on the basis of every three months, up to 90% of them have returned for follow-up examinations, while 100% of the HIV-positive volunteers have returned for the treatment process. In conclusion, online HIV self-testing has received a great deal of attention from the risk groups, who also showed capability of following recommended steps in submitting their test results through online platforms. Online HIV self-test is therefore a recommended approach for high-risk groups, which allows them to conduct HIV tests by themselves at home. It is also quite easy and does not take them a lot of time to do. Importantly, it prevents them from having to go outside to get tested. Eventually, it becomes an alternative way for high-risk groups to achieve the 90–90–90 targets as set by UNAIDS.

Publications:
• Kongjareon, Y., Samoh, N., Lim, S. H., Peerawaranun, P., Jonas, K. J., & Guadamuz, T. E. (2020). Group sex, suicidality and online partners: implications for HIV and suicide prevention: a short report. AIDS care, 32(8), 954-958. DOI:10.1080/09540121.2020.1734174
• Samoh, N., Peerawaranun, P., Jonas, K. J., Lim, S. H., Wickersham, J. A., & Guadamuz, T. E. (2021). Willingness to Use HIV Self-Testing With Online Supervision Among App-Using Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in Bangkok. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 48(3), e41-44. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001271

Contact:
Assoc. Prof. Dr.Thomas Guadamuz
08 6084 4154
tguadamu@hotmail.com