Current status of HIV testing and related factors among male people who inject drugs in several southern provinces of Vietnam in 2021

Abstract

HIV testing for people who inject drugs (PWID) assists in early detection and prompt ARV treatment; improves the quality of life for infected people and reduces transmission to the community. A cross - sectional study among over 1,200 male PWID greater or equal to 16 years old in 6 sentinel HIV surveillance
provinces was conducted in 2021 to determine the percentage of HIV testing among malePWID who had ever tested for HIV or tested for HIV in the past 12 months and 6 months and factors related to HIV testing behaviors. The percentage of PWID who had ever tested for HIV or tested for HIV in the past 12 months and 6 months was 83.6%, 46.4% and 14.1%, respectively. Three factors were found to increase HIV testing in the past 6 months including previous sex with FSWs (OR = 1.93; 95%CI: 1.33 - 2.79); having got
a free condom/needle (OR=2.12; 95%CI: 1.34 - 3.35); and having an STI checkup in the past 3 months (OR = 3.59; 95%CI: 2.19 - 5.89). Conversely, those sharing needles in the past 6 months (OR = 0.13; 95%CI: 0.02 - 0.97); those being unmarried or having no sex in the
past month (OR = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.18 - 0.63) were less likely to get tested for HIV. HIV testing counselling for PWID who have sex with FSWs, receive free condoms/condoms, and have STI examinations needs to maintain; at the same time, it is essential to promote more HIV testing counselling for PWID who share needles and have no wife/no sex in the past month.