Does HIV VCT reduce risk behaviors? An observational study in Guatemala City.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the impact of HIV voluntary counseling and testing on self-reported behavioral risks three months after HIV testing.


METHODS
Cohort study comparing self-reported risk behaviors prior to and three months after HIV testing.


METHODS
Clinica Familiar Luis Angel Garcia, an HIV specialty clinic located in a Guatemalan National Hospital.


METHODS
144 people undergoing HIV testing were enrolled. 44 were HIV positive. 41 HIV positive and 49 HIV negative subjects returned for follow-up interviews.


METHODS
All subjects were tested and received voluntary counseling regarding HIV infection, transmission, prevention, and interpretation of HIV test results.


METHODS
The primary study outcome measure was change in self-reported risk behaviors three months after voluntary counseling and testing.


RESULTS
Men were more likely than women to report a history of sexually transmitted diseases, more than 2 sexual partners, using alcohol with sex, and receiving money for sex; they were less likely to have a regular partner. 26% of men reported non-heterosexual orientation; no woman did. Alcohol was the primary drug of abuse in both men and women. At three month follow-up HIV positive subjects showed decreases in the average number of sexual partners, use of alcohol with sex, and episodes of unprotected sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Voluntary counseling and testing resulted in changes in some self-reported risk behaviors, but only among HIV positive subjects. On nearly all measures men report riskier behavior than women. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in this population and is often used with sex.
Samayoa
Blanca
B
Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Family & Social Medicine, 3544 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. bronxdoc@gmail.com
Anderson
Matthew R
MR
O'Sullivan
Lucia F
LF
Patricia
Karla
K
Pacheco
Alonso
A
Matos
Ana
A
Reyes
Denise Alabart
DA
Setru
Sagar
S
Arathoon
Eduardo
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D035141:Voluntary Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult