AEGiS-06IAC: Support system availability of clients utilizing anonymous HIV antibody test sites in California.

6th International AIDS Conference


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

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Support system availability of clients utilizing anonymous HIV antibody test sites in California.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:335 (abstract no. Th.D.839)
Marelich WD, Ramirez AL, Barba B, Kizer KW; California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California, USA

OBJECTIVE: To investigate psychosocial support systems (PSS) of at-risk and no-risk clients utilizing Anonymous HIV Antibody Test Sites (ATS).

METHODS: A survey addressing individual PSS was presented to ATS clients during a two-week period in July, 1989. Only those clients completing HIV testing were used in subsequent analyses (N = 1349). Analyses compared PSS availability of no-risk (monogamous heterosexuals) and at-risk (based on CDC guidelines) clients using a 5-point scale ranging from 1 "not very sure of support" to 5 "very sure of support".

RESULTS: When asked about PSS availability should they test HIV positive, both groups were "very sure" that their lover/spouse and family would be a source of support, and "moderately sure" their friends would be a source of support. However, at-risk clients tended to perceive greater support from their friends than no-risk clients (p less than .01). When asked about PSS availability should they test HIV positive and go on to develop AIDS, both groups were "not very sure" that their co-workers and employer would be a source of support, "moderately sure" their lover/spouse, friends, and doctor would be a source of support, and "very sure" their family would be a source of support. However, at-risk clients tended to perceive greater support from their employer and friends than no-risk clients (p less than .01).

CONCLUSIONS: At-risk ATS clients tend to perceive greater PSS than no-risk clients. HIV/AIDS client counseling efforts should realize these different perceptions and assimilate them into active practice.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Counseling, AIDS Serodiagnosis, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Services Accessibility, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.), HIV Seropositivity, Risk, Risk-Taking, Laboratory Techniques and Procedures, California, Human, economics, ICA6KWDaegis,hivinfections,counseling,aidsserodiagnosis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,healthservicesaccessibility,centersfordiseasecontrolandprevention(uKWDsKWD),hivseropositivity,risk,risk-taking,laboratorytechniquesandprocedures,california,human,economics,ica6

900620
ThD839

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