title: Factors associated with self-reported repeat HIV testing after a negative result in Durban, South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Routine screening for HIV infection leads to early detection and treatment. We examined patient characteristics associated with repeated screening in a high prevalence country.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from a cohort of 5,229 adults presenting for rapid HIV testing in the outpatient departments of 2 South African hospitals from November 2006 to August 2010. Patients were eligible if they were ≥18 years, reported no previous diagnosis with HIV infection, and not pregnant. Before testing, participants completed a questionnaire including gender, age, HIV testing history, health status, and knowledge about HIV and acquaintances with HIV. Enrollment HIV test results and CD4 counts were abstracted from the medical record. We present prevalence of HIV infection and median CD4 counts by HIV testing history (first-time vs. repeat). We estimated adjusted relative risks (ARR's) for repeat testing by demographics, health status, and knowledge of HIV and others with HIV in a generalized linear model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 4,877 participants with HIV test results available, 26% (N = 1258) were repeat testers. Repeat testers were less likely than first-time testers to be HIV-infected (34% vs. 54%, p<0.001). Median CD4 count was higher among repeat than first-time testers (201/uL vs. 147/uL, p<0.001). Among those HIV negative at enrollment (N = 2,499), repeat testing was more common among those with family or friends living with HIV (ARR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.33-1.68), women (ARR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.11-1.40), and those self-reporting very good health (ARR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.12-1.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this high prevalence setting, repeat testing was common among those undergoing HIV screening, and was associated with female sex, lower prevalence of HIV infection, and higher CD4 counts at diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. sregan@partners.org
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Losina
authors.forename: Senica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chetty
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giddy
authors.forename: Rochelle P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Walensky
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Freedberg
authors.forename: Ingrid V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Bassett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult