RESEARCH ARTICLE Perceived Empathy of Service Providers Mediates the Association between Perceived Discrimination and Behavioral Intention to Take Up HIV Antibody Testing Again among Men Who Have Sex with Men

HIV antibody testing is a key measure of HIV prevention for men who have sex with men (MSM). TheWorld Health Organization recommends sexually active and at-risk MSM to take up HIV antibody testing regularly. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of be-havioral intention to take up HIV antibody testing in the next six months among Hong Kong MSM who were ever-testers. An anonymous cross-sectional survey recruited 326 MSM who had taken up HIV antibody testing from gay-friendly venues and internet in Hong Kong. Of the participants, 40.8 % had had unprotected anal intercourse with regular or non-regular male sex partners in the last six months; they were at risk of HIV transmission despite expe-rience in HIV antibody testing. Only 37.2 % showed a strong intention to take up HIV anti-body testing again in the next six months. Adjusted analysis showed that both perceived discrimination toward Hong Kong MSM (AOR =.60, 95 % CI:.36–.98) and the CARE Mea-sure assessing perceived empathy of service providers (AOR = 1.05, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.08) were significantly associated with intention for retesting. Perceived discrimination, however, became statistically non-significant (AOR =.68, 95 % CI:.41–1.14), when both CARE Mea