Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Among men who have sex with men (MSM), fewer immigrants are tested for HIV, but HIV checkpoints attract immigrant MSM. Research reveals the need for studies that consider immigrant MSM's socio-demographics, sexual risks, and birthplace. Our objective was to examine these in a sample of MSM checkpoint users. The study was conducted from July 2012 to November 2014 at Actuel sur Rue (AsR), a Montreal-based HIV checkpoint. Male clients who completed both the counselling and self-administered questionnaires and reported sex with men (MSM) were included in the sample. Men born outside of Canada were considered immigrants. We compared immigrant and non-immigrant MSM's socio-demographics and sexual risks, and considered these by origin, and conducted regression analyses examining how immigrant status and socio-demographics were associated with risk practices. During the study period, 1353 MSM visited AsR and 407 (30%) were immigrants, mostly from Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, and Africa/Middle-East. Equal proportions (2%) of immigrant and non-immigrant MSM received a positive rapid HIV-test. Relative to non-immigrant MSM, a greater proportion of immigrant MSM reported a post-secondary degree, a lower income, and being unemployed , while fewer reported receiving an HIV-positive/unknown-status partner's sperm/blood in their mouth, ever having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive partner, and ever having sold sex (p<0.05). In comparisons by origin, fewer Asian and African/Middle-Eastern immigrant MSM reported ever testing for HIV (p<0.05). Immigrant status was not independently associated with sexual risk in regression analyses. MSM who earned less, were unemployed, or had a secondary degree or less were more likely to have sold sex. In brief, immigrant status alone does not predict reported sexual risk, unlike socio-demographics. However, efforts are needed to increase access to HIV testing among immigrant MSM, in particular Asian and African/Middle-Eastern MSM.