HIV testing frequency and associated factors among male people who inject drugs of Quang Ninh provinces in 2021

Abstract

HIV testing is the first step of an ongoing link between HIV diagnosis, care, and treatment that contributes to reducing HIV transmission in the community. A cross - sectional study among 300 male people who inject drugs (PWID) aged 16 years and older, living in 5 districts of Quang Ninh province was conducted in 2021 to describe the status of HIV testing in the past 12 months and some related factors among PWID. Research results showed that the percentage of PWID who had ever tested for HIV or tested for HIV in the past year was 98.3% and 52.7%, respectively. Two factors were found that reduced HIV testing in the last year among PWID as had ever sex with female sex worker (OR = 0.33; 95%KTC: 0.18 - 0.61; p = 0.000) and those who had married status as a widow, divorced, and separate compared with single (OR = 0.35; 95%KTC: 0.16 – 0.79; p = 0.012). It is necessary to extend and diversify of HIV testing approaches to improve the utilization of HIV testing among PWID and promote more HIV testing counseling for PWID who have sex with female sex workers.