Getting to the First 90: Incentivized Peer Mobilizers Promote HIV Testing Services to Men Who Have Sex With Men Using Social Media in Mumbai, India.
Journal
Global health, science and practice
ISSN: 2169-575X
Titre abrégé: Glob Health Sci Pract
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101624414
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 2019
09 2019
Historique:
received:
07
03
2019
accepted:
11
06
2019
entrez:
28
9
2019
pubmed:
29
9
2019
medline:
16
4
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Recent studies of Indian men who have sex with men (MSM) have shown widespread use of social media for seeking sex partners. We piloted a peer mobilization approach to explore the feasibility of engaging previously unreached MSM online to link them to HIV testing services (HTS). MSM were encouraged to seek HTS through messages posted on a popular dating website. Those who visited the designated HTS site and tested for HIV were recruited as peer mobilizers and given coupons with unique identifying codes to distribute to other men in their virtual networks. If a network member presented at the site with a coupon and tested for HIV, the peer mobilizer was given a small monetary incentive. Network members presenting at the testing site were also recruited as peer mobilizers and given coupons. In a 6-month period, 247 MSM were recruited and tested for HIV and syphilis, of whom 244 (99%) were first-time testers. Two-thirds were less than 25 years old and about half reported inconsistent or no condom use during the last 10 anal sex acts. Eight individuals (3.2%) tested positive for HIV, and 22 (8.9%) had a high titer for syphilis; all were referred to tertiary hospitals for treatment. Our approach was modestly successful in reaching and providing HTS to previously unreached MSM, but challenges included lower-than-expected recruitment, individuals not returning for posttest counseling, and loss to follow-up of individuals with HIV. The next phase of peer mobilization will aim to scale up these services through government-supported targeted interventions for this subpopulation of primarily young, unreached MSM at high risk. The challenges will be addressed by targeting more dating sites, increasing access to testing using rapid HIV tests at several community-based facilities, and offering peer navigation support for people living with HIV.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31558601
pii: GHSP-D-19-00094
doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-19-00094
pmc: PMC6816816
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
469-477Subventions
Organisme : PEPFAR
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
© Das et al.
Références
Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Dec 1;61(11):1732-41
pubmed: 26251048
J Int AIDS Soc. 2016 Dec 19;19(1):21348
pubmed: 27989271
J Int AIDS Soc. 2014 Oct 01;17:19041
pubmed: 25280864
Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2015 Mar;12(1):173-90
pubmed: 25626718
AIDS. 2005 May;19 Suppl 2:S67-72
pubmed: 15930843
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2016 Oct 31;4(4):e120
pubmed: 27799139
HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2014 Nov 20;6:159-70
pubmed: 25429240