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Sex Transm Infect doi:10.1136/sti.2007.027276

Internet as a Tool to Access High-Risk Men Who Have Sex with Men from a Resource-Constrained Setting: A study from Peru

  1. Magaly M Blas (blasmag{at}u.washington.edu)
  1. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia/University of Washington, Peru
    1. Isaac E Alva (alva{at}u.washington.edu)
    1. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
      1. Robinson Cabello (robinsoncabello{at}yahoo.com)
      1. Via Libre, Peru
        1. Patricia Garcia (pattyjannet{at}gmail.com)
        1. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
          1. Cesar Carcamo (carcamo{at}u.washington.edu)
          1. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
            1. Marc Redmon (marc.redmon{at}comcast.net)
            1. University of Washington, United States
              1. Ann Marie Kimball (akimball{at}u.washington.edu)
              1. University of Washington, United States
                1. Rosemary Ryan (r2{at}u.washington.edu)
                1. University of Washington, United States
                  1. Ann E Kurth (akurth{at}u.washington.edu)
                  1. University of Washington, United States
                    • Published Online First 11 October 2007

                    Abstract

                    Objectives: In Peru, current interventions in high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) reach a limited number of this population because they rely solely on peer education. The objective of this study was to assess the use of the Internet as an alternative tool to access this population.

                    Methods: Two nearly identical banner ads-both advertising an online survey but only one offering free HIV/syphilis tests and condoms- were displayed randomly at a Peruvian gay Web site.

                    Results: The inclusion of the health incentive increased the frequency of both banner ad click-through (5.8% vs. 3.4% delivered impressions; P<0.001) as well as participation in our online survey (713 vs. 411 surveys received; P<0.001), attracting high-risk MSM not previously tested for HIV but interested in a wide variety of preventive Web-based interventions. Eleven percent (80/713) of participants who said they had completed the survey offering free testing visited our clinic: of those who attended, 6% had already been diagnosed with HIV while 5% tested positive for HIV. In addition 8% tested positive for syphilis.

                    Conclusions: The Internet can be used as a tool to access MSM in Peru. The compensation of a free HIV/syphilis test increased the frequency of participation in our online survey, indicating that such incentives may be an effective means of reaching this population. However, as only a small percentage of participants actually reported for testing, future research should develop and assess tailored Internet interventions to increase HIV/STI testing and delivery of other prevention services to Peruvian MSM.

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