HIV testing behaviour and associated factors in men who have sex with men by level of urbanisation: A cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

Jeanine Leenen; Juliën N.A.P. Wijers; Chantal Den Daas; John De Wit; Christian J.P.A. Hoebe; Nicole H.T.M. Dukers-Muijrers

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049175

HIV testing behaviour and associated factors in men who have sex with men by level of urbanisation: A cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

Jeanine Leenen, Juliën N.A.P. Wijers, Chantal Den Daas, John De Wit, Christian J.P.A. Hoebe, Nicole H.T.M. Dukers-Muijrers^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Objectives Regular HIV testing in men who have sex with men (MSM) enables timely entry into care and reduces the likelihood of HIV transmission. We aimed to assess HIV-testing behaviour and associated factors in MSM by urbanisation of place of residence. Design Data were derived from online survey ('Men & Sexuality') in the Netherlands, which was mainly advertised on social media (Facebook and Instagram), dating websites, apps for MSM (Grindr and PlanetRomeo) and gay media. Primary and secondary outcome measures HIV testing was defined as recent (<1 year), not recent (≥1 year) or never. Using multinominal regression analyses, factors associated with not recent testing and never testing, compared with recent testing, were assessed among MSM living in highly (>2500 residences/km 2) or non-highly (≤2500 residences/km 2) urbanised areas. Participants The study sample included 3815 MSM, currently living in the Netherlands. The mean age was 36 years (SD 14.7), and 67.6% were highly educated. Results In highly urbanised areas, 11.8% was never and 19.8% was not recently HIV-tested. In non-highly urbanised areas, this was 25.2% and 19.6%. Among MSM living in highly urbanised areas, independently associated with never and not recent testing were younger age, self-identification as bisexual, fewer sex partners, never notified of HIV and no recent condomless anal intercourse. Among MSM living in non-highly urbanised areas, lower perceived HIV severity, higher perceived HIV risk and a lower proportion gay friends were associated with never and not recent testing. Among never tested MSM, those in non-highly urbanised areas preferred self-sampling/self-testing over facility-based testing; those in highly urbanised areas preferred testing at healthcare facilities. Conclusions The proportion of never tested MSM was high (25%) in non-highly urbanised areas in the Netherlands. MSM living in non-highly urbanised areas may possibly be reached with targeted approaches to increase HIV testing uptake such as self-testing/self-sampling strategies.

Original language	English
Article number	e049175
Number of pages	10
Journal	BMJ Open
Volume	12
Issue number	1
Early online date	13 Jan 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049175
Publication status	Published - 13 Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgments
We thank Wim Zuilhof, Paul Zantkuijl, Arjan van Bijnen and Koenraad Vermeij from STI AIDS Netherlands for their valuable contribution to the survey Men and Sexuality. In addition, we are grateful to Philippe Adam for making the data available.

Data Availability Statement

Data are available upon reasonable request. Due to the Dutch law of protection of personal information (Wet Bescherming Personengegevens or personal Data Protection Act, http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0011468/geldigheidsdatum_13-07-2015), it is not allowed to distribute or share any personal data that can be traced back (direct or indirect) to an individual. The data used in this study are not publicly available. For permission, interested researchers are required to provide their name and institution to avoid misuse of this sensitive data and to align with the Dutch law of protection of personal information. Therefore, interested researchers may contact the head of the data-archiving (Helen Sijstermans: Helen.sijstermans@ggdzl.nl) to receive the data.

Keywords

epidemiology
HIV & AIDS
public health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049175Licence: CC BY-NC

Leenen_at_al_HIV_testing_BMJ_Open_vor
Data are available upon reasonable request. Due to the Dutch law of protection of personal information (Wet Bescherming Personengegevens or personal Data Protection Act, http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0011468/geldigheidsdatum_13-07-2015), it is not allowed to distribute or share any personal data that can be traced back (direct or indirect) to an individual. The data used in this study are not publicly available. For permission, interested researchers are required to provide their name and institution to avoid misuse of this sensitive data and to align with the Dutch law of protection of personal information. Therefore, interested researchers may contact the head of the data-archiving (Helen Sijstermans: Helen.sijstermans@ggdzl.nl) to receive the data.
Final published version, 363 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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title = "HIV testing behaviour and associated factors in men who have sex with men by level of urbanisation: A cross-sectional study in the Netherlands",

abstract = "Objectives Regular HIV testing in men who have sex with men (MSM) enables timely entry into care and reduces the likelihood of HIV transmission. We aimed to assess HIV-testing behaviour and associated factors in MSM by urbanisation of place of residence. Design Data were derived from online survey ('Men & Sexuality') in the Netherlands, which was mainly advertised on social media (Facebook and Instagram), dating websites, apps for MSM (Grindr and PlanetRomeo) and gay media. Primary and secondary outcome measures HIV testing was defined as recent (<1 year), not recent (≥1 year) or never. Using multinominal regression analyses, factors associated with not recent testing and never testing, compared with recent testing, were assessed among MSM living in highly (>2500 residences/km 2) or non-highly (≤2500 residences/km 2) urbanised areas. Participants The study sample included 3815 MSM, currently living in the Netherlands. The mean age was 36 years (SD 14.7), and 67.6% were highly educated. Results In highly urbanised areas, 11.8% was never and 19.8% was not recently HIV-tested. In non-highly urbanised areas, this was 25.2% and 19.6%. Among MSM living in highly urbanised areas, independently associated with never and not recent testing were younger age, self-identification as bisexual, fewer sex partners, never notified of HIV and no recent condomless anal intercourse. Among MSM living in non-highly urbanised areas, lower perceived HIV severity, higher perceived HIV risk and a lower proportion gay friends were associated with never and not recent testing. Among never tested MSM, those in non-highly urbanised areas preferred self-sampling/self-testing over facility-based testing; those in highly urbanised areas preferred testing at healthcare facilities. Conclusions The proportion of never tested MSM was high (25%) in non-highly urbanised areas in the Netherlands. MSM living in non-highly urbanised areas may possibly be reached with targeted approaches to increase HIV testing uptake such as self-testing/self-sampling strategies.",

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note = "Acknowledgments We thank Wim Zuilhof, Paul Zantkuijl, Arjan van Bijnen and Koenraad Vermeij from STI AIDS Netherlands for their valuable contribution to the survey Men and Sexuality. In addition, we are grateful to Philippe Adam for making the data available.",

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AU - Den Daas, Chantal

AU - De Wit, John

AU - Hoebe, Christian J.P.A.

AU - Dukers-Muijrers, Nicole H.T.M.

N1 - Acknowledgments We thank Wim Zuilhof, Paul Zantkuijl, Arjan van Bijnen and Koenraad Vermeij from STI AIDS Netherlands for their valuable contribution to the survey Men and Sexuality. In addition, we are grateful to Philippe Adam for making the data available.

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N2 - Objectives Regular HIV testing in men who have sex with men (MSM) enables timely entry into care and reduces the likelihood of HIV transmission. We aimed to assess HIV-testing behaviour and associated factors in MSM by urbanisation of place of residence. Design Data were derived from online survey ('Men & Sexuality') in the Netherlands, which was mainly advertised on social media (Facebook and Instagram), dating websites, apps for MSM (Grindr and PlanetRomeo) and gay media. Primary and secondary outcome measures HIV testing was defined as recent (<1 year), not recent (≥1 year) or never. Using multinominal regression analyses, factors associated with not recent testing and never testing, compared with recent testing, were assessed among MSM living in highly (>2500 residences/km 2) or non-highly (≤2500 residences/km 2) urbanised areas. Participants The study sample included 3815 MSM, currently living in the Netherlands. The mean age was 36 years (SD 14.7), and 67.6% were highly educated. Results In highly urbanised areas, 11.8% was never and 19.8% was not recently HIV-tested. In non-highly urbanised areas, this was 25.2% and 19.6%. Among MSM living in highly urbanised areas, independently associated with never and not recent testing were younger age, self-identification as bisexual, fewer sex partners, never notified of HIV and no recent condomless anal intercourse. Among MSM living in non-highly urbanised areas, lower perceived HIV severity, higher perceived HIV risk and a lower proportion gay friends were associated with never and not recent testing. Among never tested MSM, those in non-highly urbanised areas preferred self-sampling/self-testing over facility-based testing; those in highly urbanised areas preferred testing at healthcare facilities. Conclusions The proportion of never tested MSM was high (25%) in non-highly urbanised areas in the Netherlands. MSM living in non-highly urbanised areas may possibly be reached with targeted approaches to increase HIV testing uptake such as self-testing/self-sampling strategies.

AB - Objectives Regular HIV testing in men who have sex with men (MSM) enables timely entry into care and reduces the likelihood of HIV transmission. We aimed to assess HIV-testing behaviour and associated factors in MSM by urbanisation of place of residence. Design Data were derived from online survey ('Men & Sexuality') in the Netherlands, which was mainly advertised on social media (Facebook and Instagram), dating websites, apps for MSM (Grindr and PlanetRomeo) and gay media. Primary and secondary outcome measures HIV testing was defined as recent (<1 year), not recent (≥1 year) or never. Using multinominal regression analyses, factors associated with not recent testing and never testing, compared with recent testing, were assessed among MSM living in highly (>2500 residences/km 2) or non-highly (≤2500 residences/km 2) urbanised areas. Participants The study sample included 3815 MSM, currently living in the Netherlands. The mean age was 36 years (SD 14.7), and 67.6% were highly educated. Results In highly urbanised areas, 11.8% was never and 19.8% was not recently HIV-tested. In non-highly urbanised areas, this was 25.2% and 19.6%. Among MSM living in highly urbanised areas, independently associated with never and not recent testing were younger age, self-identification as bisexual, fewer sex partners, never notified of HIV and no recent condomless anal intercourse. Among MSM living in non-highly urbanised areas, lower perceived HIV severity, higher perceived HIV risk and a lower proportion gay friends were associated with never and not recent testing. Among never tested MSM, those in non-highly urbanised areas preferred self-sampling/self-testing over facility-based testing; those in highly urbanised areas preferred testing at healthcare facilities. Conclusions The proportion of never tested MSM was high (25%) in non-highly urbanised areas in the Netherlands. MSM living in non-highly urbanised areas may possibly be reached with targeted approaches to increase HIV testing uptake such as self-testing/self-sampling strategies.

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HIV testing behaviour and associated factors in men who have sex with men by level of urbanisation: A cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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