TY - JOUR T1 - HIV testing and HIV knowledge among men who have sex with men in Natal, Northeast Brazil JO - The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases T2 - AU - Bay,Monica Baumgardt AU - Freitas,Marise Reis de AU - Lucas,Marcia Cavalcante Vinhas AU - Souza,Elizabeth Cristina Fagundes de AU - Roncalli,Angelo Giuseppe SN - 14138670 M3 - 10.1016/j.bjid.2019.01.003 DO - 10.1016/j.bjid.2019.01.003 UR - https://bjid.org.br/en-hiv-testing-hiv-knowledge-among-articulo-S1413867018304355 AB - BackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) account for the highest prevalence of HIV in Brazil. HIV testing allows to implement preventive measures, reduces transmission, morbidity, and mortality. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate HIV testing during lifetime, factors associated with the decision to test, knowledge about HIV transmission, and use of condoms between MSM from the city of Natal, northeast Brazil. ResultsOut of 99 participants, 62.6% had been tested for HIV during lifetime, 46.2% in the last year. The most frequent reported reason to be tested for HIV infection was curiosity (35.5%). Correct knowledge about HIV was observed in only 9.2% of participants. In multivariate analysis, age (PR 0.95; 95%CI, 0.91–0.99; p=0.041) and previous syphilis test (PR 4.21; 95%CI, 1.52–11.70; p=0.006) were associated with HIV testing. ConclusionsThe frequency of HIV testing among MSM from Natal is rather low, especially in younger MSM, and knowledge about HIV transmission is inappropriate. ER -