Social Support and Other Factors Associated with HIV Testing by Hispanic/Latino Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in the U.S. South.

Cognitive-psychosocial and other factors may affect participation in HIV testing, particularly by Hispanic/Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the U.S. South, a region hard-hit by HIV. We used univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine the association between social support and other cognitive-psychosocial factors; sociodemographic characteristics; risk behaviors; and self-reported HIV testing in a sample of 304 Hispanic/Latino MSM in North Carolina. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, general and HIV-related social support and HIV-related knowledge were associated with greater odds of testing; speaking only Spanish was associated with reduced odds of testing. Social support and aspects of social connectedness may constitute community-based resources for use in HIV prevention efforts with Hispanic/Latino MSM. However, harnessing these resources for HIV prevention will require a better understanding of how social support relationships and processes shape HIV risks and protective actions by these vulnerable MSM.