AEGiS-14IAC: Failure to return for HIV test results among three populations at high risk.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Failure to return for HIV test results among three populations at high risk.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. ThOrD1398)

Lansky A, Drake A, Sullivan PS
CDC, Atlanta, United States

BACKGROUND: Voluntary counseling and testing is a key factor in HIV prevention. We describe prevalence of and reasons for failing to return for HIV test results among three populations at risk for HIV infection.

METHODS: The HIV Testing Survey (HITS) was a cross-sectional study conducted in 7 areas of the United States from June 2000 through February 2001. Systematic sampling methods were used in selected venues to conduct anonymous interviews with men who had sex men (MSM), injection drug users (IDU), and STD clinic patients. We selected for analysis those who reported ever having had an HIV test, excluding those who reported a positive result. Nonparametric tests were conducted for the association between perceived risk of "having HIV right now" (10-point scale) and failing to return for results.

RESULTS: Overall, 91% of MSM, 93% of IDU and 76% of STD clinic patients had been tested. Among those tested, 75 of 784 (9.6%) MSM, 137 of 702 (19.5%) IDU, and 202 of 763 (26.5%) STD patients failed to return for their HIV test results at least once. The most common reason for failing to return among IDU and STD patients was thinking they would be notified if they tested positive (57% and 39%, respectively); for MSM the most common reason was they were "too busy or forgot" (41%). Many failed to return because they were afraid of getting the results (31% MSM, 21% IDU, 22% STD). In each group, those with higher perceived risk of having HIV were more likely to have failed to return for their results (P < 0.01 for each).

CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of persons failed to return for their HIV test results. The fear of receiving test results suggests that the benefits of knowing one's status and the availability of treatments if positive should be addressed during pretest counseling. For those who assumed they would be notified if positive, failure to return for test results represents missed opportunities for knowledge of negative results and counseling about risk reduction.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Risk-Taking, Prevalence, Mass Screening, Cross-Sectional Studies, Counseling, Population, HIV Seropositivity, Ambulatory Care Facilities, United States, Human, Male

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ThOrD1398