[Characteristics and evolution of consultants, their risk factors and their behavior at the free anonymous HIV screening center of Colmar (France)].
BACKGROUND
Data collected in free anonymous HIV screening centers (Centre d'Information et de Dépistage Anonyme et Gratuit du VIH, CIdAG) are numerous but poorly exploited. The characteristics of the consultants, their risk factors and their behavior were rarely analyzed previously.


METHODS
Data of 3995 patients attending the CIdAG of Colmar between January 93 and February 99 were prospectively analyzed. Two 18-month periods at the beginning and end of the study were compared.


RESULTS
The activity of the center was stable. Nine HIV infections were detected (2 p. 1000 consulting). The male/female ratio was 1.2 and the mean age was 26 years. The proportion of very young patients (<20 years) was 30 p. 100 and increased significantly between the two periods. Six per cent of the consultants were male homo/bisexuals and 2 p. 100 used intravenous drugs. A regular use of condoms when having occasional sexual relations was reported by 40 p. 100 of consultants before 20 years of age, but this proportion decreased regularly as the age increased. It was minimal among intravenous drug users (19 p. 100), and greater among male homo/bisexuals (46 p. 100) than among male heterosexuals (37 p. 100) and women (33 p. 100). This proportion increased significantly during the study period in heterosexual men and women but not in male homo/bisexuals. The number of sexual partners did not vary but the knowledge of the partners'status for HIV infection and drug addiction progressed significantly. Some subjects who attended the centre several times were identified anonymously. They differed from the other consultants by an older age (mean: 31), a higher proportion of male homo/bisexuals (14 p. 100) and a less regular use of condom (26 p. 100).


CONCLUSIONS
In some French anonymous HIV screening centers, information and prevention currently appears to prevail over detecting new HIV infections. Modifying at-risk behaviour is difficult. Current messages for prevention must be improved.
Di Meo
M
M
Centre Départemental de Repos et de Soins, Colmar.
Grange
F
F
Mulberg
C
C
Guillaume
J-C
JC
D000328:Adult; D035041:Anonymous Testing; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007253:Information Centers; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking