Reliability of Self-Report of HIV Status Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of self-reported HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Brazil. Methods: MSM 18 years of age or older were recruited to a multicenter study using respondent-driven sampling. We compared self-report of the HIV test with a rapid HIV test using the kappa coefficient. Results: A total of 3859 MSM were recruited, and 39% reported ever having an HIV test; their results were reported and they agreed to a new test. Agreement between self-report and the test was very good (kappa = 0.88). Conclusion: Our results suggest that self-report of HIV infection is a reliable indicator among MSM.