title: Using peer recruitment and OraSure to increase HIV testing.
abstract: We describe a community-based pilot study to boost HIV testing in a minority community through social network recruitment and a noninvasive HIV testing methodology. Over an 11-month period, the number of test takers at the intervention site increased by 71.7%, and the proportions of test takers with risk factors similar to those of peer recruiters (heterosexual sex and multiple partners) increased by 24.2% and 19.5%, respectively. At a comparison site, testing remained stable, while the proportion of test takers reporting heterosexual sex and multiple partners decreased by 42.5% and 21.8%, respectively. The use of a social network recruitment strategy in combination with an oral HIV test shows promise in increasing testing and in targeting populations.
authors.affiliation: Education Development Center, Inc, Newton, MA 02458, USA. svargo@edc.org
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vargo
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agronick
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stueve
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008404:Massachusetts; D008913:Minority Groups; D009042:Motivation; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000821:virology*; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012944:Social Support; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014930:Women / Q000193:education