title: Many people who seek anonymous HIV-antibody testing would avoid it under other circumstances.
abstract: Decreases in high-risk behavior have been observed when people have sought anonymous or confidential HIV-antibody testing accompanied by counseling. HIV-antibody testing also benefits those who are tested, since people who find that they are seropositive can receive closer medical follow-up, and, in certain cases, medical treatment. However, debates continue about appropriate testing policy. This study concerns the conditions under which people who are currently seeking anonymous testing at an alternative test site would be willing to obtain testing. On self-administered questionnaires all sexual orientation/gender groups expressed reluctance to obtain testing if anonymity were not assured. Bisexual men were especially concerned about seeking testing if there was mandatory reporting. Believing that one was infected with HIV was slightly associated with a decreased inclination to obtain testing under non-anonymous circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kegeles
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D035041:Anonymous Testing; D002140:California; D003219:Confidentiality; D003376:Counseling; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies