Pathways to HIV testing and care by black African and white patients in London.
OBJECTIVE
To examine factors associated with uptake of HIV clinic services by black African HIV positive people living in London.


METHODS
Questionnaire survey of patients attending study clinic.


METHODS
HIV outpatient clinic in south London, UK.


METHODS
All HIV positive patients attending the clinic between July 1999 and March 2000.


METHODS
Use of health services, delay in seeking HIV test, pre-HIV test concerns, delay in uptake of HIV care, barriers to clinic use, disclosure, sources of support.


RESULTS
392 questionnaires were completed. Respondents were 64% white, 26% black African, and 10% from other ethnic groups. Twenty eight per cent of black Africans suspected they were HIV positive before diagnosis (white patients 45% (p<0.01)). Before testing 11% of black Africans had previously attended a genitourinary medicine clinic, 80% had consulted a GP. Twenty per cent of black Africans expressed concern over entitlement to care and where to get an HIV test. The majority of black Africans (66%) received HIV care within 1 month of their diagnosis. They were significantly (p<0.01) less likely than white patients to disclose their HIV status to family and friends.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that although black Africans are a high risk group for HIV infection they generally do not suspect their status. While they may delay testing, their uptake of HIV clinic care and use of statutory and voluntary support services after diagnosis is similar to their white counterparts. However, they lack informal support networks. This study highlights the continuing need for health promotion work among London's African communities, to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness of the benefits of testing.
Erwin
J
J
Academic Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Guy's, King's and St Thomas's Medical School, Harrison Wing, St Thomas's Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK. josephine.erwin@kcl.ac.uk
Morgan
M
M
Britten
N
N
Gray
K
K
Peters
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D012307:Risk Factors