HIV Testing Among Msm in China from 2011 to 2022: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: China has 1.05 million reported HIV-infected people alive, with a cumulative reported 351 thousand deaths by the end of 2020. The HIV epidemic in China is concentrated among key populations, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM). Frequent HIV testing for MSM is a practical step for linkage to HIV treatment, prevention and new infection reduction without an HIV vaccine. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) established the 90-90-90 targets for the control of HIV in 2014 and announced the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. We aimed to review the HIV testing rates of MSM in China from 2011 to 2022 to show evidence of the testing rate increasing after the UNAIDS announced the 90-90-90 targets in 2014. 

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies reporting HIV testing rates among MSM by searching five databases for English or Chinese articles (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wan Fang and CNKI). We extracted the information on rates of HIV testing in the past 12 months, rates of lifetime HIV testing, and rates of lifetime HIV self-testing by literature searching articles published between 1 January 2012 and 17 August 2022. Using random-effect meta-analysis, we pool testing rates from individual studies in two periods (the dividing point between periods one and two is 2014). Q test and I2 were used to test the heterogeneities between studies and confirm the level of heterogeneity separately.

Results: We identified 307 (3.64%) studies reporting HIV testing rates for MSM in the quantitative analysis after screening the title, abstract and full text. The rate of HIV testing in the past 12 months and a lifetime of HIV testing increased from period 1 to period 2 (50.28% vs. 61.01% and 59.69% vs 67.56%, respectively). The rate of lifetime HIV self-testing exhibited minimal changes between the two periods (41.08% vs 46.03%).

Conclusions: This study provides evidence of the testing rate increasing after the UNAIDS announced the 90-90-90 targets in 2014. It will help to plan and optimize HIV testing programs and HIV public health strategies in China. 

Note: This conference abstract was presented at the 9th International Conference on Infectious Disease Dynamics organized by the journal Epidemics. This abstract has not been screened by SSRN for potential for public harm and should not be used to inform any clinical decision making. No competing interests or funding statements have been declared.