Table 2 Participants’ preferences for content of the app

Content to facilitate HIV testing behavior

Educational modules, including the importance and benefits of getting tested, details of testing procedures, window periods of HIV testing, and HIV transmission and treatment.

HIV testing resources, a searching function for looking for information about testing site, or notification push about information of nearby testing site;

Checking test results through the app;

Periodical behavioral risk assessments as self behavior monitoring;

Reminders of regularly testing

HIV post-exposure prevention

Including information of under what conditions mean HIV exposure, institutes from where one can get the medicine, medication prescribing procedures, and its side effects

Warning against substance use

Information of harms of substance use and its influence on sexual risk behavior

Psychological support

Education module, including knowledge of human sexual orientation, equity and rights of the sexual minorities, promotion of self-acceptance;

Tips and peers’ experience sharing of coming out to parents;

Self-assessment of mental health conditions, and advice-offering;

Psychological service resources, including resource recommendations, online counseling services, and assistance with appointment making

Linkage to resources of building “Xing Hun” (formality marriage)

Areas for communication

Peer communication for problem solutions, for health behavior supervision and encouragement, but avoid making it as a hooking-up area;

Communication with multidisciplinary healthcare providers