Who plans to be tested for HIV or would get tested if no one could find out the results?
We analyzed the characteristics of individuals at risk for HIV who have not been tested but who (1) planned to be tested, or (2) would get tested "if no one other than you (the respondent) could find out your results." Data were from the 1991 National AIDS Behavioral Surveys, a probability sample of the U.S. population. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlates of testing behavior among the 41% of individuals in high-prevalence cities who had HIV risk factors (n = 3,175). Of this group, 7% planned to be tested and 30% would get tested "if no one other than you could find out the results." Minorities and individuals with less education and without insurance were more likely to plan to be tested (versus previously tested), and individuals with less education and lower incomes were more likely to be willing to be tested "if no one other than you could find out the results" (versus previously tested). We conclude that a variety of options to increase testing rates should be explored, including accessible testing services, policies and procedures to increase perceptions of testing privacy, and home testing.
Phillips
K A
KA
Department of General Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, USA.
Coates
T J
TJ
Eversley
R B
RB
Catania
J A
JA
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population