Back to Search
Start Over
Longitudinal effects of home-based HIV self-testing on well-being and health empowerment among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States.
- Source :
- AIDS Care; Feb2020, Vol. 32 Issue 2, p148-154, 7p, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- HIV self-test (HST) kits have been available for purchase directly by consumers since 2012. However, public health and prevention programs have been slow to adopt self-testing as a strategy for improving testing rates and regularity, in part due to concerns about its effects on the well-being of users and lack of follow-up. This study explored whether there were differences in several constructs related to well-being, including health-related quality of life, social support, health empowerment, and emotional distress, across those who used HSTs versus tested at a clinic over time. Data were drawn from a longitudinal randomized controlled trial exploring methods of encouraging HIV testing (clinic-based, regular home delivery of HSTs) and providing follow-up afterward. Results showed that using HST in a given month was not associated with changes in either distress or well-being that same month. Although social support was lower in months when HST was used (versus clinic-based testing), participants reported that engaging in other health behaviors (e.g., Healthy diet, exercise) were more important in months they used HST compared to testing in a clinic, suggesting that HST may empower MSM to begin making other lifestyle changes that could improve their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09540121
- Volume :
- 32
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- AIDS Care
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 140955819
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2019.1622636