title: Impact of HIV testing on sexual health communication in South Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The South African government recently launched a national campaign to test 15 million South Africans for HIV by 2011. Little is known about how receipt of HIV testing might influence interpersonal communication. To explore these questions, the authors examined the effects of prior HIV testing on sexual health communication among South Africans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults (N=1284; 98% black, 36% women, mean age 31) residing in a South African township completed street-intercept surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1284 participants, 811 (63%) had been tested for HIV. Among those who had been tested, 77% tested negative, 12% tested positive, and 11% did not know their test result or refused to answer. Compared with those who had not been tested, participants who had been tested for HIV were more likely to communicate with community members about (a) HIV/AIDS, (b) getting tested for HIV, and (c) using condoms. Testing positive for HIV was associated with communication with sexual partners about condom use. Among participants who had been tested for HIV, exploratory analyses revealed that those who had engaged in sexual health communication with community members or sexual partners reported more condom-protected sex than those who had not engaged in sexual health communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV testing is associated with sexual health communication among South African community members and sexual partners. Offering HIV testing to all South Africans may increase communication and lead to reductions in sexual risk.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health and Behavior, 430 Huntington Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2340, USA. lajss@syr.edu
authors.forename: Lori A J
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Scott-Sheldon
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Kate B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Demetria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Redwaan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vermaak
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mthembu
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Harel
authors.forename: Leickness C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Simbayi
authors.forename: Seth C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kalichman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058015:Health Communication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013019:South Africa