Factors Predicting Uptake of Sexually Transmitted Infections Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Are "Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Tourists": An Observational Prospective Cohort Study

Zixin Wang*, Yuan Fang, Natthakhet Yaemim, Kai J. Jonas, Andrew Chidgey, Mary Ip, Tommy Cheng, Joseph T. F. Lau*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The term "Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) tourists" refers to individuals who obtain PrEP in other countries and use it in their home countries. A prospective observational cohort study was conducted among a group of men who have sex with men (MSM) who obtained PrEP in private clinics in Thailand and used it in Hong Kong. Participants completed two web-based self-administered surveys when obtaining PrEP in Thailand and three months afterwards. Out of 110 participants at baseline, 67 completed the follow-up. The prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing was 47.8% during the follow-up period. Eleven participants received an STI diagnosis, and seven of them were incident infections in the past three months. Participants who perceived a higher chance for STI infection (adjusted odds ratios (AOR): 1.90, 95% CI: 1.00, 3.75) and reported higher intention to take up STI testing at baseline (AOR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.50) were more likely to receive STI testing during the follow-up period. Baseline perceptions that service providers would think they were having risky behaviors because of PrEP use was negatively associated with the dependent variable (AOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.86). Service planning and health promotion related to STI testing is needed for MSM "PrEP tourists".

Original languageEnglish
Article number3582
Pages (from-to)1-15
Number of pages15
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume18
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Mar 2021

Keywords

  • PrEP tourists
  • STI testing
  • men who have sex with men
  • observational prospective cohort study
  • ANTIRETROVIRAL PROPHYLAXIS
  • BEHAVIOR
  • PREP
  • PREVENTION
  • RISK

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