Factors associated with lower knowledge of HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment among MSM in Ireland: findings from the MSM Internet Survey Ireland (MISI) 2015.
Adult
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
HIV Infections
/ diagnosis
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Literacy
Health Promotion
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Ireland
/ epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Sexual Health
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
/ diagnosis
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
HIV
behavioural interventions
health promotion
Journal
Sexually transmitted infections
ISSN: 1472-3263
Titre abrégé: Sex Transm Infect
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9805554
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 2021
08 2021
Historique:
received:
04
02
2020
revised:
01
09
2020
accepted:
03
10
2020
pubmed:
28
10
2020
medline:
15
12
2021
entrez:
27
10
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Poor knowledge regarding STI and HIV transmission, testing and treatment among men who have sex with men (MSM) may be contributing to their disproportionate burden of STIs. However, factors which predispose MSM to having this low knowledge are less understood. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with having lower knowledge of HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment among MSM. The MSM Internet Survey Ireland 2015 was a self-completed online national survey available to MSM living in Ireland. Thirteen factual statements were used to assess participants' knowledge of HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment. Respondents were defined as having 'lower knowledge' if they indicated prior knowledge of fewer than 11 true statements. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with having lower knowledge. 3090 MSM completed the survey, of whom 2905 (94%) were included in this study. Thirty-six per cent (n=1055) had lower knowledge of HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment. The factors associated with having lower knowledge included being 18-24 years of age (vs >40 years; adjusted OR (aOR) 1.98, 95% CI 1.50 to 2.61), born in Ireland (vs outside Ireland; aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.10) and being out to none of their contacts (vs out to most/all; aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.37). Knowledge was also lower among those who never tested for HIV (vs tested negative within last 12 months; aOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.88 to 2.86) and among MSM who never visited an MSM-specific health promotion website (vs visited website; aOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.25). A range of demographic factors, sexual health variables and use of MSM-specific sexual health promotion materials are associated with low knowledge regarding HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment among MSM in Ireland. Engagement with the main national MSM-specific sexual health promotion website was associated with higher knowledge levels.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Poor knowledge regarding STI and HIV transmission, testing and treatment among men who have sex with men (MSM) may be contributing to their disproportionate burden of STIs. However, factors which predispose MSM to having this low knowledge are less understood.
AIM
The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with having lower knowledge of HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment among MSM.
METHODS
The MSM Internet Survey Ireland 2015 was a self-completed online national survey available to MSM living in Ireland. Thirteen factual statements were used to assess participants' knowledge of HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment. Respondents were defined as having 'lower knowledge' if they indicated prior knowledge of fewer than 11 true statements. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with having lower knowledge.
RESULTS
3090 MSM completed the survey, of whom 2905 (94%) were included in this study. Thirty-six per cent (n=1055) had lower knowledge of HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment. The factors associated with having lower knowledge included being 18-24 years of age (vs >40 years; adjusted OR (aOR) 1.98, 95% CI 1.50 to 2.61), born in Ireland (vs outside Ireland; aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.10) and being out to none of their contacts (vs out to most/all; aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.37). Knowledge was also lower among those who never tested for HIV (vs tested negative within last 12 months; aOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.88 to 2.86) and among MSM who never visited an MSM-specific health promotion website (vs visited website; aOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.25).
CONCLUSION
A range of demographic factors, sexual health variables and use of MSM-specific sexual health promotion materials are associated with low knowledge regarding HIV and STI transmission, testing and treatment among MSM in Ireland. Engagement with the main national MSM-specific sexual health promotion website was associated with higher knowledge levels.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33106440
pii: sextrans-2020-054469
doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2020-054469
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
351-356Informations de copyright
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.