HIV test-seeking before and after the restriction of anonymous testing in North Carolina.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the impact on HIV test-seeking of North Carolina's restriction of anonymous testing to 18 of its 100 counties as of September 1, 1991.


METHODS
Trends from 4 months prerestriction to the 16-month restriction period in counties retaining vs counties eliminating anonymous testing were compared.


RESULTS
HIV testing increased throughout the state, but more rapidly where anonymous testing was retained than elsewhere: 64% vs 44%. These differences held for all sociodemographic subgroups and were most pronounced among adolescents and African Americans and other non-Whites.


CONCLUSIONS
The data are consistent with a detrimental effect of elimination of anonymous testing, although confounding from differences in AIDS awareness or in repeat tests is possible.
Hertz-Picciotto
I
I
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7400, USA.
Lee
L W
LW
Hoyo
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons