CROI 2016 Abstract eBook

Abstract Listing

Poster Abstracts

survey data was weighted so that the age distribution was comparable to that in Trans* Pride. In 2015, 7 focus groups of 3-6 participants were conducted to evaluate perceptions of local HIV/STD services among transgender people, including HIVST. Results: Compared to cis MSM, a larger proportion of trans* respondents reported an unknown HIV status and no prior HIV test (ever and in the past 2 years) (Table). The percent of cis MSM, trans women/non-binary people assigned male at birth, and trans men who had ever used HIVST was 20%, 7%, and 4%, respectively; use of HIVST at one’s last test was reported by 8% of cis MSM and 0% of trans* respondents. All the above differences were significant at p<.01. In the transgender focus groups, perceptions of HIVST varied but tended to be favorable and often preferable to testing with local HIV test providers. Convenience and privacy were frequently cited by proponents of HIVST. Skeptics were concerned by perceptions of the test’s cost, complexity, lower validity, longer window period, and that testing alone would be anxiety-provoking. The following misconceptions regarding HIVST were mentioned: it involves a finger-prick, specimens must be sent to a company, and a company stores users’ personal information. Conclusions: Pride survey data suggest that Seattle-area transgender people HIV test less frequently than cis MSM. Efforts to promote HIVST as a method for increasing HIV testing among transgender people should include educational campaigns to address concerns and misinformation and include transgender-friendly counseling resources.

972

MSM and TG Accessing HIV VCT in Bangkok: Spatial Characteristics, 2005-2015 KevinWeiss 1 ; Sarika Pattanasin 2 ;WipasWimonsate 2 ; Jirawat Suksamosorn 2 ; PrinVisavakum 2 ;Wichuda Sukwicha 2 ; Samart Karuchit 2 ; Chaiwat Ungsedhapand 2 ; Eileen Dunne 3 ;Timothy H. Holtz 3 1 Emory Univ Rollins Sch of PH, Atlanta, GA, USA; 2 Thailand Ministry of PH US CDC Collab, Nonthaburi, Thailand; 3 CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA Background: The Silom Community Clinic @TropMed (SCC @TropMed) is a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinic for men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender women (TG), in Bangkok. We assessed demographic and spatial features of our clients from 2005–2015. Methods: We routinely collected demographic and spatial data from clients attending their first VCT at SCC @TropMed. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) VCT followed an algorithm of three rapid tests on blood . We divided visit dates into 3 periods based on the growth of public HIV testing venues for MSM in Bangkok; Period 1 (Sep. 2005–Dec. 2009), Period 2 (Jan. 2010–Sep. 2013), and Period 3 (Oct. 2013–May 2015). Clients provided postal zones of residence. We obtained geocoded HIV testing venues in Bangkok serving MSM and TG from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using choropleth maps, we overlaid these spatial data and calculated distance between client residence and HIV testing venues using centroids of postal zones. We assessed differences in proportions across periods using chi-square tests of independence and trend, and spatial autocorrelation of prevalence and visit density using the Global Moran’s I test. Results: Among 8945 total clients (Period 1: 2802, Period 2: 3942, Period 3: 2201), at their first visit, 6681/8759 (76.3%) reported currently living in Bangkok, and 7429/8759 (84.8%) lived in postal zones located outside a 5-kilometer (km) radius of SCC @TropMed (Figure). Of 7728 tested, 2390 (30.9%) tested positive for HIV. Client age, HIV testing history, and current residence varied over time periods (all p <0.01). From Period 1 (12.6%) to 2 (37.5%) to 3 (41.0%), increasing proportions of clients lived in postal areas within 2 km of any testing venue ( p <0.01), and increasing proportions of clients lived in postal areas >5 km from SCC @TropMed (Period 1: 83.4%, Period 2: 84.7%, Period 3: 87.0%, p <0.01). There was no evidence of clustered HIV prevalence (Moran’s I 1.58, p =0.11) or clustered visit density (Moran’s I 1.17, p =0.24). Conclusions: Spatial data describe time-varying client demographics, including residence closer to a testing venue and residence farther from SCC @TropMed. This may represent greater access to MSM HIV testing venues in Bangkok and SCC @TropMed serving a broader geographic region. Spatial data can inform programmatic and research activities by providing meaningful data on populations and service accessibility.

Poster Abstracts

413

CROI 2016