Explaining the Presence of “Heterosexual” Female Clients of a Rapid HIV Testing Site Located in the Gay Village of Montreal, Quebec

Abstract

Background: Increasing access and uptake of HIV testing among at-risk women is needed. Examining women’s motives for visiting a community-based rapid HIV testing site (Actuel sur Rue–AsR) oriented to men who have sex with men (MSM) could offer suggestions. Objective: To compare the “heterosexual” female and male clients of AsR, located in Montreal’s (Canada) gay village, to better understand the women’s particular HIV prevention and sexual health service needs. Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study analyzed questionnaire data provided by AsR clients and staff (nurse and community agent teams) between July 2012 and November 2013. Women and men reporting only opposite-sex partners were compared with chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Kruskal-Wallis tests, as appropriate, on sociodemographics, HIV-related behaviors, motives for visiting AsR, and health service provision. Results: AsR received 1901 clients. Among these, 55 women and 147 men reported only opposite-sex partners. Women were significantly younger. Significantly greater proportions of women visited AsR because no appointment was necessary (67% vs 48%), sought testing for condom failure (18% vs 5%), and had no regular doctor (44% vs 27%). Both groups mainly chose AsR for the rapid test results (80% and 77%), visited it to receive the rapid HIV test (71% and 76%), and sought testing due to unprotected vaginal sex (44% and 43%). Similar proportions saw the nurse (91% and 89%), received the rapid HIV test (44% and 35%), and were linked to a medical clinic (49% and 52%), especially, to receive complete sexually transmitted infection testing (50% and 44%). Conclusions: The results of this innovative study highlight the draw of rapid HIV testing for “heterosexual” users of a site mainly targeting MSM. They also suggest that further research is warranted into the importance for this group of women clients of drop-in and linkage services, particularly given their possible lesser access to regular care