AEGiS-05IAC: Acceptance of HIV-antibody screening and prevalence of antibodies against HIV at a STD clinic.

5th International AIDS Conference

Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

Acceptance of HIV-antibody screening and prevalence of antibodies against HIV at a STD clinic.

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:164 (abstract no. A.523)
Kvinesdal BB, Worm AM; Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark

During periods of three weeks repeated every third month from October 1987 to November 1988, all persons attending a STD clinic in Copenhagen for examination were offered a blood test for HIV-antibodies. The test could be performed anonymously or not. Data concerning sexual orientation, prostitution, drug abuse and sexual contact with high risk groups were collected. During all four periods 1753 persons attended the clinic. HIV-antibody testing was not accepted by 12.6% of heterosexual men, 9.6% of homo-/bisexual men and 9.9% of the women. No major difference in acceptance of HIV-antibody testing during the four periods was seen. Four heterosexual men, 11 homo-/bisexual men and one woman were found HIV-antibody positive. The data support that a constant number of clients attending a STD clinic refuse even anonymously HIV-antibody testing and underline the necessity for blinded HIV-antibody testing in order to disclose the true prevalence in this group.

890604
A523