Prevalence and correlates of HIV testing among college students: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
Whether college students who are most at-risk of HIV infection are being tested is unknown. This exploratory study identified the prevalence and correlates of ever having an HIV test among college students.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a probability sample of 903 college students. Measures of sexual risk behaviour were assessed.


RESULTS
Of the students surveyed, 22.5% reported they had been tested for HIV. Testing was more likely among those 20 years of age or older (27.8% v. 14.7%; P = 0.0001), females (25.4% v. 17.8%; P = 0.01), and members of racial/ethnic minorities (42.7% v. 20.3%; P = 0.0001). After adjusting for these covariates, those who reported ever having vaginal sex (AOR = 5.5; 95% CI = 3.1-9.6); anal sex (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.6-3.6), and oral sex (AOR = 6.3; 95% CI = 3.0-13.3) were significantly more likely to report being tested. Students having vaginal sex in the past 12 months were significantly more likely to report testing (AOR = 5.3; 95% CI = 3.1-9.1). Those reporting vaginal sexual debut (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.2-3.1) or oral sexual debut (AOR= 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1-2.5) < or = age 15 were significantly more likely to be tested. Students reporting four or more sex partners were significantly more likely to be tested than sexually experienced students reporting fewer partners (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI = 2.2-4.6). Finally, those reporting at least one episode of forced vaginal sex (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI = 2.1-7.2) and reporting at least one episode of any forced sex (vaginal, anal, oral) (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.8-5.0) were significantly more likely to report being tested.


CONCLUSIONS
Within this population, demographically controlled findings suggest that those most at-risk of HIV infection are indeed being tested for the virus.
Crosby
Richard A
RA
College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, 121 Washington Ave, Room 11 C, Lexington, KY 40506-0003, USA. crosby@uky.edu
Miller
Kim H
KH
Staten
Ruth R
RR
Noland
Melody
M
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*