title: Feasibility and acceptability of door-to-door rapid HIV testing among latino immigrants and their HIV risk factors in North Carolina.
abstract: Latino immigrants in the United States are disproportionally impacted by the HIV epidemic but face barriers to clinic-based testing. We assessed a community-based strategy for rapid HIV testing by conducting "door-to-door" outreaches in apartments with predominately Latino immigrants in Durham, North Carolina, that has experienced an exponential growth in its Latino population. Eligible persons were 18 years or older, not pregnant, and reported no HIV test in the previous month. Participants were asked to complete a survey and offered rapid HIV testing. Of the 228 Latino participants, 75.4% consented to HIV testing. There was a high prevalence of sexual risk behaviors among participants, with 42.5% acknowledging ever having sex with a commercial sex worker (CSW). Most (66.5%) had no history of prior HIV testing. In bivariate analysis, perceived HIV risk, no history of HIV testing, sex with a CSW, sex in exchange for drugs or money, living with a partner, and alcohol use were significantly associated with test acceptance. In the multivariate analysis, participants who had never been tested for HIV were more likely to consent to rapid HIV testing than those who had tested in the past (adjusted odds ratio 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1, 5.6). Most participants supported rapid HIV testing in the community (97%). Door-to-door rapid HIV testing is a feasible and acceptable strategy for screening high-risk Latino immigrants in the community. Factors associated with HIV risk among Latino migrants and immigrants in the United States should be considered along with novel testing strategies in HIV prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. idrod@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Arlene C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Seña
authors.forename: Juliana P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeveloff
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gamble
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult