HIV risk behaviors and testing history in historically black college and university settings.
OBJECTIVE
From 2001 through 2005, African Americans accounted for the largest percentage of new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in all age categories, especially among people aged 13 to 24 years. Although students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) report many of the behaviors that promote HIV transmission, their risk behaviors and HIV testing practices have not been well-characterized. We compared the demographic and behavioral characteristics of people who have been previously tested for HIV with those of people tested for the first time in this demonstration project to increase HIV testing at HBCUs.


METHODS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and collaborating partners conducted rapid HIV testing and behavioral surveys at HBCUs in Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C., from January 2005 to April 2007. We recruited a convenience sample of students and community members at different campus venues including student health centers, dormitories, and student activity centers.


RESULTS
Our analysis included 5,291 people, 42% of whom reported they had never been tested for HIV. People who had been tested in the past were more likely to be older, believe they were at high risk for infection, have visited a health-care facility, and report behaviors that increased their risk of HIV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Respondents who believed they were at increased risk for HIV infection or reported behaviors that increased their risk for infection were more likely to have been tested for HIV. Future research should compare actual vs. perceived risk for HIV infection and contrast how each impacts HIV testing.
Thomas
Peter E
PE
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, MS-E46, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. pbt7@cdc.gov
Voetsch
Andrew C
AC
Song
Binwei
B
Calloway
Denyce
D
Goode
Carolyn
C
Mundey
Lynette
L
Nobles
Joanne
J
Sly
Kaye
K
Smith
Michelle R
MR
Williams
Brenda
B
Shiloh
Mattie
M
Patterson
Kevin
K
Ward
Sybil
S
Sullivan
Patrick S
PS
Heffelfinger
James D
JD
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult