HIV testing and HIV knowledge among men who have sex with men in Natal, Northeast Brazil

BACKGROUND: Men 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. METHODS: We 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. RESULTS: Out 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. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of HIV testing among MSM from Natal is rather low, especially in younger MSM, and knowledge about HIV transmission is inappropriate.