title: HIV testing beliefs in a predominantly Hispanic community health center during the routine HIV testing era: does English language ability matter?
abstract: The Hispanic population in the U.S. carries a disproportionate burden of HIV. Despite the high prevalence of HIV, many Hispanics remain untested for HIV. The purpose of this study conducted in a predominantly Hispanic-serving community health center in a high HIV prevalence area was to understand patient beliefs of who should be tested for HIV in the routine HIV testing era. Survey participants were presented with nine populations of people that should be tested for HIV based on CDC HIV testing recommendations. Of the 90 participants (67.1% Hispanic) who answered the HIV testing beliefs question, only approximately 45% were aware that all adults and teenagers should be HIV tested. Only 30% correctly identified all nine populations of people that should be tested for HIV based on CDC HIV testing recommendations. Our study suggests that Hispanics are either unaware of or disagree with the latest CDC recommendations for routine HIV testing of all persons ages 13-64 in high HIV prevalence areas. Improving knowledge of the current HIV epidemiologic profile in the U.S. and the most recent routine HIV testing recommendations may improve HIV testing rates in Hispanic communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. monishaa@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Monisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.forename: Amber B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Amspoker
authors.forename: Naina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lalani
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patuwo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallen
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Street
authors.forename: Kasisomayajula
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Viswanath
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult