Low Level of Accurate Knowledge of Undetectable Equals Untransmittable (U = U) Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Challenges U = U Achievement in Chengdu, Southwestern China
{"title":"Low Level of Accurate Knowledge of Undetectable Equals Untransmittable (U = U) Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Challenges U = U Achievement in Chengdu, Southwestern China","authors":"Zhengli Shi, Jinghua Li, Hao Lin, Xiaodong Wang, Wangnan Cao, Yuhui Shi","doi":"10.1007/s10461-024-04502-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The introduction of the undetectable equals untransmittable (U = U) statement significantly reduces HIV stigma and provides an empirical basis for achieving “zero transmission.” U = U messaging has gained increasing support and is well-developed in several countries. However, the current status of accurate knowledge of U = U and its associated factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China remians unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among MSM recruited in Chengdu, China, from March to May 2022 to investigate the percentage of those who knew U = U accurately and to explore associations between sexual risk behaviors, HIV testing, socio-behavioral measures, and accurate knowledge of U = U. Of 497 MSM included in our study, 23.4% (116/497) had accurate knowledge of U = U. More than half of the participants (63.2%, 314/497) reported multiple sexual partnerships, 15.7% (78/497) used substance during sex, 37.4% (186/497) reported inconsistent condom use, and 76.1% (378/497) took HIV testing in the past six months. Factors associated with accurate knowledge of U = U among MSM included substance use during sex (multivariate odds ratios ORm = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.13–3.41), HIV status tested in the last six months (ORm = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.14–3.77), HIV-related literacy (ORm = 1.41; 95%CI: 1.14–1.74) and perceived higher risk of HIV infection (ORm = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.02–1.21). The findings indicate that great challenges need to be conquered for U = U achievement among the MSM population in Chengdu, China. Intervention strategies should be prioritized in health education on high-risk behaviors such as group sex and substance use, information provision and counseling of U = U in HIV testing services, and encouraging U = U knowledge sharing among MSM with their partners in China.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7543,"journal":{"name":"AIDS and Behavior","volume":"28 12","pages":"4146 - 4157"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"AIDS and Behavior","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10461-024-04502-z","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The introduction of the undetectable equals untransmittable (U = U) statement significantly reduces HIV stigma and provides an empirical basis for achieving “zero transmission.” U = U messaging has gained increasing support and is well-developed in several countries. However, the current status of accurate knowledge of U = U and its associated factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China remians unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among MSM recruited in Chengdu, China, from March to May 2022 to investigate the percentage of those who knew U = U accurately and to explore associations between sexual risk behaviors, HIV testing, socio-behavioral measures, and accurate knowledge of U = U. Of 497 MSM included in our study, 23.4% (116/497) had accurate knowledge of U = U. More than half of the participants (63.2%, 314/497) reported multiple sexual partnerships, 15.7% (78/497) used substance during sex, 37.4% (186/497) reported inconsistent condom use, and 76.1% (378/497) took HIV testing in the past six months. Factors associated with accurate knowledge of U = U among MSM included substance use during sex (multivariate odds ratios ORm = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.13–3.41), HIV status tested in the last six months (ORm = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.14–3.77), HIV-related literacy (ORm = 1.41; 95%CI: 1.14–1.74) and perceived higher risk of HIV infection (ORm = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.02–1.21). The findings indicate that great challenges need to be conquered for U = U achievement among the MSM population in Chengdu, China. Intervention strategies should be prioritized in health education on high-risk behaviors such as group sex and substance use, information provision and counseling of U = U in HIV testing services, and encouraging U = U knowledge sharing among MSM with their partners in China.
期刊介绍:
AIDS and Behavior provides an international venue for the scientific exchange of research and scholarly work on the contributing factors, prevention, consequences, social impact, and response to HIV/AIDS. This bimonthly journal publishes original peer-reviewed papers that address all areas of AIDS behavioral research including: individual, contextual, social, economic and geographic factors that facilitate HIV transmission; interventions aimed to reduce HIV transmission risks at all levels and in all contexts; mental health aspects of HIV/AIDS; medical and behavioral consequences of HIV infection - including health-related quality of life, coping, treatment and treatment adherence; and the impact of HIV infection on adults children, families, communities and societies. The journal publishes original research articles, brief research reports, and critical literature reviews. provides an international venue for the scientific exchange of research and scholarly work on the contributing factors, prevention, consequences, social impact, and response to HIV/AIDS. This bimonthly journal publishes original peer-reviewed papers that address all areas of AIDS behavioral research including: individual, contextual, social, economic and geographic factors that facilitate HIV transmission; interventions aimed to reduce HIV transmission risks at all levels and in all contexts; mental health aspects of HIV/AIDS; medical and behavioral consequences of HIV infection - including health-related quality of life, coping, treatment and treatment adherence; and the impact of HIV infection on adults children, families, communities and societies. The journal publishes original research articles, brief research reports, and critical literature reviews.5 Year Impact Factor: 2.965 (2008) Section ''SOCIAL SCIENCES, BIOMEDICAL'': Rank 5 of 29 Section ''PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH'': Rank 9 of 76