Lack of understanding of acute HIV infection among newly-infected persons-implications for prevention and public health: The NIMH Multisite Acute HIV Infection Study: II.
Acute/early HIV infection is a period of high HIV transmission. Consequently, early detection of HIV infection and targeted HIV prevention could prevent a significant proportion of new transmissions. As part of an NIMH-funded multisite study, we used in-depth interviews to explore understandings of acute HIV infection (AHI) among 34 individuals diagnosed with acute/early HIV infection in six US cities. We found a marked lack of awareness of AHI-related acute retroviral symptoms and a lack of clarity about AHI testing methods. Most participants knew little about the meaning and/or consequences of AHI, particularly that it is a period of elevated infectiousness. Over time and after the acute stage of infection, many participants acquired understanding of AHI from varied sources, including the Internet, HIV-infected friends, and health clinic employees. There is a need to promote targeted education about AHI to reduce the rapid spread of HIV associated with acute/early infection within communities at risk for HIV.
Remien
Robert H
RH
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. rhr1@columbia.edu
Higgins
Jenny A
JA
Correale
Jackie
J
Bauermeister
Jose
J
Dubrow
Robert
R
Bradley
Mark
M
Steward
Wayne T
WT
Seal
David W
DW
Sikkema
Kathleen J
KJ
Kerndt
Peter R
PR
Mayer
Kenneth H
KH
Truong
Hong-Ha M
HM
Casey
Corinna Young
CY
Ehrhardt
Anke A
AA
Morin
Stephen F
SF
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D001364:Awareness; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009315:National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.); D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult