Acceptance of HIV testing and counseling among unmarried young adults in Northern Thailand.
A cluster randomized trial was used to assess the effect of an active group intervention in promoting utilization of voluntary HIV testing and counseling (HIV-TC). Villagers from 40 clusters were sampled to represent the premarital age population and assigned into two groups, intervention and comparison. The intervention was designed to enhance risk perception and increase knowledge about HIV testing. Interviews were performed before and after the intervention. At baseline, 23% of 398 participants had been tested for HIV at least once and 90% reported testing positive. Most participants perceived that they had no chance of being infected with HIV. Among the intervention group, 71% participated in the intervention activities. The risk ratio of HIV-TC acceptance among the intervention group was 2.92, but the risk difference was only 8.11%. Factors associated with HIV-TC acceptance were ever having had a sexually transmitted disease, being previously married, intention to get tested, and having partici pated in AIDS-related activities.
Jiraphongsa
Chuleeporn
C
Field Epidemiology Training Program, Division of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.
Danmoensawat
Wanna
W
Greenland
Sander
S
Frerichs
Ralph
R
Siraprapasiri
Taweesap
T
Glik
Deborah C
DC
Detels
Roger
R
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology