Exploring the relationship between HIV Testing frequency and sexual behavior, prevention prophylaxis use among MSM in Southern China
4 affiliations
- 1The Fourth People's Hospital of Nanning, Guangxi, China
- 2The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- 3School of Nursing, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China
- 4Key Lab of AIDS Prevention and Treatment, Life Sciences Institute, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to explore the association between HIV testing trajectories, sexual behavior characteristics and HIV exposure prevention prophylaxis use, to provide a basis for developing more precise HIV prevention strategies. Study design: This analysis utilized pseudonymized data from a three-arm, open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Guangxi, China, between 2021 and 2023. Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 327 participants from southern China. Longitudinal data—including HIV testing, sexual risk behaviors, and prophylaxis use (PrEP/PEP)—were collected at baseline and quarterly for one year. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to identify behavioral patterns, and person-years (PY) of follow-up were calculated to estimate incidence densities of PrEP/PEP use and STI occurrence. Results: A total of 76.45% of men who have sex with men (MSM) received HIV testing less frequently than once every three months, and HIV self-testing (HIVST) was not significantly associated with increased rates of HIV testing (HT). In the HT model, MSM who underwent middle-frequency HT were less likely to report having fewer temporary sexual partners (OR 0.120, 95% CI 0.017–0.85, P = 0.034) and regular sexual partners (OR 0.502, 95% CI 0.267–0.943, P = 0.032). The use of PrEP increased with higher HT frequency, demonstrating a 3.39-fold (95% CI: 1.377–8.843, P = 0.008) increase in the middle frequency group and a 7.335-fold (95% CI: 2.505–21.475, P < 0.001) increase in the high frequency group compared to the low frequency group. PEP use also increased with higher HT frequency, showing a 6.129-fold (95% CI: 1.921–19.553, P = 0.002) increase in the high frequency group compared to the low frequency group. Conclusions: While frequent HIV testing demonstrates significant associations with increased sexual partner numbers, its role in facilitating consistent use of HIV exposure prevention prophylaxis remains clinically valuable.
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BibTeX
@article{liang2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring the relationship between HIV Testing frequency and sexual behavior, prevention prophylaxis use among MSM in Southern China}},
author = {Yinxia Liang and Min Wang and Yun Zhang and Jinli Mo and Weiyi Tian and Haimei Huang and Jiawen Zhu and Yangfang Wang and Hongbin Peng and Xia Luo and Ping Cen and Chuanyi Ning},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0358578},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358578},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploring the relationship between HIV Testing frequency and sexual behavior, prevention prophylaxis use among MSM in Southern China
AU - Yinxia Liang
AU - Min Wang
AU - Yun Zhang
AU - Jinli Mo
AU - Weiyi Tian
AU - Haimei Huang
AU - Jiawen Zhu
AU - Yangfang Wang
AU - Hongbin Peng
AU - Xia Luo
AU - Ping Cen
AU - Chuanyi Ning
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0358578
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358578
AB - Aim: This study aimed to explore the association between HIV testing trajectories, sexual behavior characteristics and HIV exposure prevention prophylaxis use, to provide a basis for developing more precise HIV prevention strategies. Study design: This analysis utilized pseudonymized data from a three-arm, open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Guangxi, China, between 2021 and 2023. Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 327 participants from southern China. Longitudinal data—including HIV testing, sexual risk behaviors, and prophylaxis use (PrEP/PEP)—were collected at baseline and quarterly for one year. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to identify behavioral patterns, and person-years (PY) of follow-up were calculated to estimate incidence densities of PrEP/PEP use and STI occurrence. Results: A total of 76.45% of men who have sex with men (MSM) received HIV testing less frequently than once every three months, and HIV self-testing (HIVST) was not significantly associated with increased rates of HIV testing (HT). In the HT model, MSM who underwent middle-frequency HT were less likely to report having fewer temporary sexual partners (OR 0.120, 95% CI 0.017–0.85, P = 0.034) and regular sexual partners (OR 0.502, 95% CI 0.267–0.943, P = 0.032). The use of PrEP increased with higher HT frequency, demonstrating a 3.39-fold (95% CI: 1.377–8.843, P = 0.008) increase in the middle frequency group and a 7.335-fold (95% CI: 2.505–21.475, P < 0.001) increase in the high frequency group compared to the low frequency group. PEP use also increased with higher HT frequency, showing a 6.129-fold (95% CI: 1.921–19.553, P = 0.002) increase in the high frequency group compared to the low frequency group. Conclusions: While frequent HIV testing demonstrates significant associations with increased sexual partner numbers, its role in facilitating consistent use of HIV exposure prevention prophylaxis remains clinically valuable.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -