The elimination of anonymous HIV testing: a case study in North Carolina.
In May 1997, anonymous human immunodeficiency virus testing in publicly funded clinics was eliminated throughout North Carolina. There were concerns that this decision would disenfranchise testers with certain behavioral profiles. North Carolina's counseling and testing system was used to evaluate the effect of this policy change. A 10.3 percent decline in overall testing and a 21.7 percent decline among men who had sex with other men were identified in the year following the policy change. However, between 13 and 24 months after the policy change, the number of tests administered returned to near pre-policy levels. Understanding North Carolina's experience can assist others considering similar policy changes.
Castrucci
Brian C
BC
Division of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Williams
Delbert E
DE
Foust
Evelyn
E
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035041:Anonymous Testing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015980:Public Health Practice