Acceptability of voluntary population screening for antibodies against HIV. Aarhus Research Group on AIDS.
In order to assess the acceptability of voluntary population screening for antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a random sample of 300 Danish men, aged 20-49 years, were sent a self-administered questionnaire. Among nonrespondents, recruitment attempts were repeated three times with intervals of 8-10 days. In total, 76.7% responded. Two hundred men (87.0% of the respondents) would accept an offer to be tested in an anti-HIV screening programme. Among respondents, 72.9% agreed to identify themselves to the researchers, 22.1% preferred to be tested under a code number known only by the participant himself, and 5% wanted the test information to be completely anonymous. Among the 30 men refusing HIV testing, 40% reported they were not concerned about AIDS, 16.7% expressed concern with confidentiality problems, and another 16.7% had been tested already and for this reason declined to participate. Previous reports have indicated high seroprevalences among nonrespondents and raised prevalences of behavior at high risk for HIV infection among persons who do themselves take the initiative to be tested or who decline to be tested because they worry about confidentiality. Low respondency and the associated disproportional loss of subjects at high risk of HIV infection may bias HIV seroprevalence estimates based on population probability sampling, especially in areas with low HIV infection prevalence. Because of these biases, voluntary population screening is likely to give only lower bound estimates of HIV seroprevalence. So, this technique should only be used in combination with other surveillance approaches.
Foldspang
A
A
Institute of Social Medicine, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Melbye
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015483:HIV Antibodies