TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the Underestimation of HIV Risk Infection among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in Argentina
AU - Feijoo-Cid, Maria
AU - Fernández-Cano, María Isabel
AU - Zalazar, Virginia
AU - Soler, David Moriña
AU - García-Sierra, Rosa
AU - Arreciado Marañón, Antonia
AU - Sued, Omar
PY - 2022/11/18
Y1 - 2022/11/18
N2 - The aim of this study is to describe the discordance between the self-perceived risk and actual risk of HIV among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and its associated factors. An online, cross-sectional study was conducted with 405 men recruited from an Argentinian NGO in 2017. Risk discordance (RD) was defined as the expression of the underestimation of risk, that is, as a lower self-perception of HIV risk, as measured with the Perceived Risk of HIV Scale, than the current risk of HIV infection, as measured by the HIV Incidence Risk Index. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between the RD and the explanatory variables. High HIV risk was detected in 251 (62%), while 106 (26.2%) showed high self-perceived risk. RD was found in 230 (56.8%) YMSM. The predictors that increased RD were consistent condom use with casual partners (aOR = 3.8 [CI 95:1.5–11.0]), the use of Growler to meet partners (aOR = 10.38 [CI 95:161–121.94]), frequenting gay bars (aOR = 1.9 [95% CI:1.1–3.5]) and using LSD (aOR = 5.44 [CI 95:1.32–30.29]). Underestimation of HIV risk in YMSM is associated with standard HIV risk behavior and modulated by psychosocial aspects. Thus, prevention campaigns aimed at YMSM should include these factors, even though clinical practice does not. Health professionals should reconsider adapting their instruments to measure the risk of HIV in YMSM. It is unknown what score should be used for targeting high-risk YMSM, so more research is needed to fill this gap. Further research is needed to assess what score should be used for targeting high-risk in YMSM.
AB - The aim of this study is to describe the discordance between the self-perceived risk and actual risk of HIV among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and its associated factors. An online, cross-sectional study was conducted with 405 men recruited from an Argentinian NGO in 2017. Risk discordance (RD) was defined as the expression of the underestimation of risk, that is, as a lower self-perception of HIV risk, as measured with the Perceived Risk of HIV Scale, than the current risk of HIV infection, as measured by the HIV Incidence Risk Index. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between the RD and the explanatory variables. High HIV risk was detected in 251 (62%), while 106 (26.2%) showed high self-perceived risk. RD was found in 230 (56.8%) YMSM. The predictors that increased RD were consistent condom use with casual partners (aOR = 3.8 [CI 95:1.5–11.0]), the use of Growler to meet partners (aOR = 10.38 [CI 95:161–121.94]), frequenting gay bars (aOR = 1.9 [95% CI:1.1–3.5]) and using LSD (aOR = 5.44 [CI 95:1.32–30.29]). Underestimation of HIV risk in YMSM is associated with standard HIV risk behavior and modulated by psychosocial aspects. Thus, prevention campaigns aimed at YMSM should include these factors, even though clinical practice does not. Health professionals should reconsider adapting their instruments to measure the risk of HIV in YMSM. It is unknown what score should be used for targeting high-risk YMSM, so more research is needed to fill this gap. Further research is needed to assess what score should be used for targeting high-risk in YMSM.
KW - HIV risk infection
KW - HIV risk perception
KW - Young adults
KW - adolescents
KW - men who have sex with men
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/f0990bae-af80-3458-8945-d90b6a193cf7/
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85142436900&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph192215269
DO - 10.3390/ijerph192215269
M3 - Article
C2 - 36429984
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 19
SP - 1
EP - 14
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 22
M1 - 15269
ER -