Abstract
BackgroundAlthough many men who have sex with men (MSM) in Peru are unaware of their HIV status, they are frequent users of the Internet, and can be approached by that medium for promotion of HIV testing.MethodsWe conducted an online randomized controlled trial to compare the effect of HIV-testing motivational videos versus standard public health text, both offered through a gay website. The videos were customized for two audiences based on self-identification: either gay or non-gay men. The outcomes evaluated were ‘intention to get tested’ and ‘HIV testing at the clinic.’FindingsIn the non-gay identified group, 97 men were randomly assigned to the video-based intervention and 90 to the text-based intervention. Non-gay identified participants randomized to the video-based intervention were more likely to report their intention of getting tested for HIV within the next 30 days (62.5% vs. 15.4%, Relative Risk (RR): 2.77, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.42–5.39). After a mean of 125.5 days of observation (range 42–209 days), 11 participants randomized to the video and none of the participants randomized to text attended our clinic requesting HIV testing (p = 0.001). In the gay-identified group, 142 men were randomized to the video-based intervention and 130 to the text-based intervention. Gay-identified participants randomized to the video were more likely to report intentions of getting an HIV test within 30 days, although not significantly (50% vs. 21.6%, RR: 1.54, 95% CI: 0.74–3.20). At the end of follow up, 8 participants who watched the video and 10 who read the text visited our clinic for HIV testing (Hazard Ratio: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.40–2.85).ConclusionThis study provides some evidence of the efficacy of a video-based online intervention in improving HIV testing among non-gay-identified MSM in Peru. This intervention may be adopted by institutions with websites oriented to motivate HIV testing among similar MSM populations.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT00751192
Highlights
In Latin America in 2007, 58,000 people lost their lives due to AIDS, and approximately 100,000 were newly infected with HIV
This study provides some evidence of the efficacy of a video-based online intervention in improving HIV testing among non-gay-identified men who have sex with men (MSM) in Peru
This intervention may be adopted by institutions with websites oriented to motivate HIV testing among similar MSM populations
Summary
In Latin America in 2007, 58,000 people lost their lives due to AIDS, and approximately 100,000 were newly infected with HIV. An important risk factor in the epidemics of several countries of this region is unprotected sex between men who have sex with men (MSM). In Peru, current interventions to target MSM are concentrated on peer education programs on streets, in bathhouses and in other places frequented by this population. This approach reaches only those MSM who are most identified (between 18% to 45% of the population), and neglects hidden MSM populations who are less likely to be gay-identified, such as closeted, younger and bisexual MSM [2,3,4]. Many men who have sex with men (MSM) in Peru are unaware of their HIV status, they are frequent users of the Internet, and can be approached by that medium for promotion of HIV testing
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