GBQ guys name some of their biggest challenges to getting HIV tested.
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In the U.S., human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects 13- to 24-year-old men who have sex with men (MSM) more than any other age or gender group [1]. Indeed, new HIV infections are increasing fastest among adolescent MSM compared to all other groups [1].
While HIV treatments have improved a lot in the past decade, these treatments are more successful when the virus is detected earlier [2, 3]. This means testing is an important part of ending the epidemic [3]. However, only an estimated 1 in 2 gay and bisexual young men living with HIV are aware of their infection [1]. Consistent with this finding, we recently collected data from just over 300 gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) teen guys, and only 3 in 10 sexually active teens said they had ever been tested for HIV.
Previous studies found that older MSM men report much higher rates of HIV testing [1]. This suggests that there may be a long lag time between when young men become sexually active and when they start testing for HIV. To understand why teens choose or not choose to get tested, we examined what the guys in our survey said impacted their decision:
1. GBQ teen guys don’t know where to get tested.
The biggest reason why guys in our study did not get tested is because they did not know where to go for an HIV test. Perhaps not surprisingly, those who knew where to go were significantly more likely to have been tested.
2. GBQ guys also have problems getting to the testing location.
Among guys who knew where to find a testing clinic, at least half said that the nearest one was between 15-30 minutes away. For 1 in 8 guys, the nearest clinic was more than 30 minutes from them. As a teen, it can be pretty difficult to get around – especially if you don’t have your driver’s license or your own car. Asking someone for a ride to a testing clinic can feel really uncomfortable, let alone difficult to protect your privacy.
3. GBQ guys are worried about their privacy.
Several guys said they were worried that someone, especially parents, might see them or find out that they went to get tested. It may help teens to know that getting tested for sexually transmitted infections can be done anonymously in some states without letting parents know the results. Parents, letting your teens know that you care about their health – including getting tested for sexually transmitted infections – could also go a long way in addressing this fear for them.
So where can you get tested? Local health clinics, hospitals, and even some schools and churches offer HIV tests. Want to find the nearest testing location to you? There’s an app for that!
Pro tips:
- Call ahead to find out whether the test is free (or how much it costs) and schedule an appointment
- Look into the reporting laws in the state where you live. In many places it’s possible to get tested without your parents knowing.
- If all of that seems like too much, don’t worry: You can buy home testing kits online, like at Amazon.com.
Some GBQ teens may also be concerned about what an HIV test involves (e.g., how many needles are involved and how big are they?!). Good news: Not all HIV tests require needles anymore – cheek swabs are also available. To learn more, check out Avert to learn about HIV testing options and this video from the IMPACT Program:
To learn more about HIV and how to lower your risk, check out this HIV Risk Reduction Tool.
Learn more about our research at Center for Innovative Public Health Research.
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Acknowledgments:
This article is based on our publication in partnership with The IMPACT LGBT Health and Development Program at Northwestern University:
Phillips G 2nd, Ybarra ML, Prescott TL, Parsons JT, Mustanski B. Low rates of human immunodeficiency virus testing among adolescent gay, bisexual, and queer men. J Adolesc Health. 2015; S1054-139X(15)00259-1. Access at: Center for Innovative Public Health Research.
Thank you to Emilie Chen for her contributions to this blog.
References:
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Among Gay and Bisexual Men. 2015; http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/
[2] Avert. HIV testing. http://www.avert.org/hiv-testing.htm
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Testing Among Adolescents. 2014; http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/sexualbehaviors/pdf/hivtesting_adolescents.pdf