HIV testing in Denmark: a nominator-denominator study.
In order to describe prevalence and trends of HIV infection, demographic variables, risk factors, and reasons for seeking testing, and self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed to approximately 75% of all individuals tested for antibodies to HIV on a voluntary basis, in all parts of the Danish health-care system, in November 1987 and in April 1988. The number of questionnaires returned was 2143 (55%). Overall, HIV prevalence was 1.2% and was highest among homosexual and bisexual men: 6% in November and 9% in April, with no statistical difference. Sixteen per cent of the men reported homosexual behaviour, 7% reported intravenous drug use, and 60% more than one opposite-sex partner within the last 12 months. No substantial difference was observed between reported risk factors in November and April. Overall, 18% had been tested at least once before; this figure rose to approximately 50% among homosexual men and intravenous drug abusers, a substantial number of whom had engaged in risk behaviour since the latest test. Sixty percent of men and 75% of women were tested at general practitioners', and 22% and 13% at sexually transmitted disease clinics; only 6% of men and 3% of women had used alternative test sites. It is concluded that studies of anti-HIV-tested people can give detailed information about patterns of HIV testing and indications of trends in HIV infection rates, thereby supplementing other forms of HIV surveillance.
Schmidt
K W
KW
Department of Epidemiology, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Krasnik
A
A
Zoffmann
H
H
Brendstrup
E
E
Kvinesdal
B
B
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires