14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrD1201)

Flowers P, Knussen C, Church S
Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom

BACKGROUND: To describe the relationship between HIV testing and a range of psychosocial, sexual and socio-demographic variables.

METHOD: Trained sessional research staff administered a self-complete questionnaire in the gay bars of Glasgow and Edinburgh, in summer 2000.

RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 803 men (response rate of 78%). In total, 55% of the sample had ever had an HIV test. We present the results of both bivariate and multivariate analyses identifying key variables associated with never having had an HIV test. Never having tested was associated with younger age (p<0.01), fewer anal sexual partners in previous year (p<0.01), and fewer unprotected anal partners in previous 5 years (p<0.01), weaker norms for testing (p<0.001), higher scores on treatment optimism (p<0.001), an increase in perceived problems with clinics (p<0.001), and waiting for test results (p<0.001), increased fear regarding positive results (p<0.001), fewer perceived benefits of testing (p<0.001), increased negative attitudes towards sex with known HIV positive men (p<0.001), and increased tendencies to assume that others were HIV negative (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that most important factor associated with never having tested was fear of a positive result; this was particularly true for those men who reported higher levels of risky sexual conduct.

CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the relevance of these findings in terms of presenting a psychosocial agenda which demands that stigma and the social exclusion of HIV positive people should be addressed before gay men are encouraged to seek HIV testing.

020707
TuOrD1201

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