HIV and STI testing among substance-using sexual and gender minority adolescents and young adults (Preprint)

Abstract

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender individuals are more heavily impacted by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. Additionally, sexual and gender minorities who use substances are often at a further increased risk of HIV and other STIs. Increasing testing for HIV and other STIs allows for this hardly reached population allows for early intervention, prevention, and education.

We explored HIV and STI testing patterns among 414 sexual and gender minority substance-using adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (aged 15-29).

We fit multinomial logistic regression models to two categorical HIV and STI testing variables (lifetime, past 12-months) based on self-report of testing (never, STIs only, HIV only, or both).

Only 41% of the sample achieved the CDC recommendation of past-year HIV and STI testing. We observed HIV and STI testing disparities across sociodemographic (e.g., sexual identity, education, and income) and health correlates (e.g., substance use). Specifically, cisgender men who have sex with men were more likely to report testing compared to gender minority participants.

These results illustrate the need for HIV prevention interventions that leverage structural factors, psychosocial barriers, and substance-use as key drivers of achieving HIV and STI testing rates to meet CDC’s guidelines.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02945436; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02945436

RR2-10.2196/resprot.9414