AEGiS-06IAC: Anonymous testing considered essential, good follow-up results.

6th International AIDS Conference


San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

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Anonymous testing considered essential, good follow-up results.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:333 (abstract no. Th.D.831)
Gardner L, Trow R; Hassle Free Clinic, Toronto, Canada

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether 1. clients consider anonymity to be a necessary pre-condition when presenting for HIV Antibody testing; 2. seropositive clients tested anonymously will return for results; 3. an anonymous testing system can facilitate medical follow up and social support; 4. seropositive clients will cooperate in informing contacts.

METHODS: All clients presenting for pre-test counselling over a nine-month period were asked whether they came to the clinic specifically for anonymous testing, and whether they would have been tested under a non-anonymous system. Program statistics were reviewed to determine changes in demand for testing over time, seropositive rates, return rates for post-test counselling, and enrollment in the clinic's HIV+ education/support program. Returning seropositive clients were questioned re medical follow up and informing contacts, from January to May 1990.

RESULTS: In the client survey to date, 95% stated they came to the clinic specifically for anonymous testing, and 30% said they would not have been tested if anonymous testing was not available. Numbers of clients presenting for testing has increased each year, from 228 in 1986 to 1658 in 1989. Seropositive rate has remained fairly constant at 13-15%. Return rate for post-test counselling has remained constant at 85%. Approximately 50% of seropositives enrolled in the HIV+ support program in 1989. Data on medical follow up and informing contacts will be presented at the conference.

CONCLUSIONS: Anonymous testing appears to be an essential factor in attracting individuals for HIV counselling. High percentages of seropositives return for post-test counselling and follow up services. It is anticipated that data will show that seropositives cooperate in informing contacts.

Keywords: AEGIS, Counseling, HIV, Confidentiality, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, HIV Antibodies, HIV Seroprevalence, HIV Seronegativity, HIV-1, Ambulatory Care Facilities, Human, immunology, ICA6KWDaegis,counseling,hiv,confidentiality,hivseropositivity,hivinfections,hivantibodies,hivseroprevalence,hivseronegativity,hiv-1,ambulatorycarefacilities,human,immunology,ica6

900620
ThD831

Copyright © 1990 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.