Investigating the relationship between HIV testing and risk behaviour in Britain: National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles 2000.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of, and identify factors associated with, HIV testing in Britain.


METHODS
A large, stratified probability sample survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles.


METHODS
A total of 12,110 16-44 year olds completed a computer-assisted face-to-face interview and self-interview. Self-reports of HIV testing, i.e. the timing, reasons for and location of testing, were included.


RESULTS
A total of 32.4% of men and 31.7% of women reported ever having had an HIV test, the majority of whom were tested through blood donation. When screening for blood donation and pregnancy were excluded, 9.0% of men and 4.6% of women had had a voluntary confidential HIV test (VCT) in the past 5 years. However, one third of injecting drug users and men who have sex with men had a VCT in the past 5 years. VCT in the past 5 years was significantly associated with age, residence, ethnicity, self-perceived HIV risk, reporting greater numbers of sexual partners, new sexual partners from abroad, previous sexually transmitted infection diagnosis, and injecting non-prescribed drugs for men and women, and same-sex partners (men only). Whereas sexually transmitted disease clinics were important sites for VCT, general practice accounted for almost a quarter of VCT.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV testing is relatively common in Britain; however, it remains largely associated with population-based blood donation and antenatal screening programmes. In contrast, VCT remains highly associated with high-risk (sexual or drug-injecting) behaviours or population sub-groups at high risk. Strategies to reduce undiagnosed prevalent HIV infection will require further normalization and wider uptake of HIV testing.
McGarrigle
Christine A
CA
HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections Department, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
Mercer
Catherine H
CH
Fenton
Kevin A
KA
Copas
Andrew J
AJ
Wellings
Kaye
K
Erens
Bob
B
Johnson
Anne M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology