AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 27, Issue 9, 2015, Pages 1098-1103

Explaining the appeal for immigrant men who have sex with men of a community-based rapid HIV-testing site in Montreal (Actuel sur Rue) (Article)

Lessard D.* , Lebouché B. , Engler K. , Thomas R. , Machouf N.
  • a Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, Clinique Médicale l'Actuel, Montreal, Canada
  • b Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • c Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • d Clinique Médicale l'Actuel, Montreal, Canada
  • e Clinique Médicale l'Actuel, Montreal, Canada

Abstract

Immigrant men who have sex with men (MSM) are vulnerable to HIV. In the last decade, several rapid HIV-testing facilities targeting MSM have been established around the world and seem popular among immigrants. This study analyzes factors contributing to immigrant MSM's use of Actuel sur Rue (AsR), a community-based rapid HIV-testing site in Montreal's gay village, where 31% of clients are immigrants. From October 2013 to January 2014, AsR staff compiled a list of new clients born outside of Canada. With their consent, 40 immigrant MSM were reached among these new clients for a 15-minute phone survey entailing open-ended and multiple-choice questions. The survey sought immigrant MSM's reasons for visiting AsR; satisfaction with service and staff; and open comments. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted with the qualitative data, and descriptive statistics were produced with the quantitative data. The qualitative findings indicate that the main reasons for seeking an HIV test were a recent risk, routine testing, or being in a new relationship. Clients chose AsR mainly because it is easily accessible, service is fast or they heard about it from a friend. The quantitative findings indicate that rates of satisfaction were high (over 90% were satisfied about all aspects except for openings hours) and more than 80% felt comfortable while receiving services at AsR. Nevertheless, this study's findings have implications for improving services. They stress the importance of offering rapid yet comprehensive service and of taking into account immigrant MSM's concerns for confidentiality. © 2015 © 2015 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Montréal HIV checkpoint client satisfaction MSM Immigration Canada

Index Keywords

immigrant South and Central America HIV Infections Human immunodeficiency virus infection mass screening Europe community care Quebec human HIV test middle aged Asia Middle East health service priority journal Aged ethnology men who have sex with men Homosexuality, Male male homosexuality Confidentiality patient counseling Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult United States migrant psychology Humans Adolescent male Canada Emigrants and Immigrants female Africa questionnaire patient satisfaction Article major clinical study adult North Africa patient attitude heterosexual male Patient Acceptance of Health Care medical staff

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84943450433&doi=10.1080%2f09540121.2015.1028880&partnerID=40&md5=76b68c54198c8ce03a2e688edd796b40

DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2015.1028880
ISSN: 09540121
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English