title: Frequent HIV testing among participants of a routine HIV testing program.
abstract: Massachusetts developed a routine HIV testing program in four sites from January-September 2002. Of the 2,502 patients tested, 453 (18.1%) reported ≥2 HIV tests within the prior three years. In multivariate analyses, frequent HIV testing was associated with younger age (18-30 years, OR = 1.42), a history of injection drug use (OR = 6.35), and men who had sex with men (OR = 3.49). Participants who reported multiple sexual partners (OR = 2.17) and high risk sexual behavior (OR = 2.02) were significantly more likely to have had a prior HIV test. Patients whose HIV risk was unknown had the highest association with frequent testing (OR = 13.18). Because characteristics of frequent HIV testers may inform behavioral interventions, there is a need to understand the motivation for repeatedly accessing HIV testing services.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Basseterre, St. Kitts.
authors.forename: Hazel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams-Roberts
authors.forename: Yuchiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Losina
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Freedberg
authors.forename: Rochelle P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Walensky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral