Using a smartphone social networking application to increase HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men in Los Angeles

Issues

In Los Angeles County, 25% of men who have sex with men (MSM) are unaware of their HIV positive status. Using smartphone social networking applications (apps) to promote HIV self-testing might help reduce common testing barriers, including poor access, stigma, and cost.

Description

An advertisement publicizing free HIV self-tests was placed on a geosocial networking app popular among MSM from October 13 to November 11, 2014. Users were linked to our program website to choose a self-test delivery method: U.S. mail, a drugstore voucher, or from a vending machine. African American or Latino MSM ≥ 18 years old were invited to take a survey on testing experiences.

Lessons Learned

During the campaign, the website received 4,389 unique visitors (average: 146 per day) and 333 self-test requests. Of those 333, 247 (74%) were requests for mailed self-tests, 58 (17%) were for vouchers, and 28 (8%) were to use the vending machine. Among 55 respondents of 97 invited survey participants, 63% were between 18-30 years old, 22% were Black/African American, and 38% last tested for HIV over a year ago or had never tested. Fifty-one (93%) reported using the self-test was easy; two reported testing HIV positive and sought medical care. 

Recommendations

Social networking app self-testing promotion resulted in a large number of HIV self-test requests. Users found the self-tests easy to use and sought medical care for positive results. Future work should evaluate different smartphone apps and compare social networking app promotion versus other forms of HIV testing services.