Correlates of perceived difficulty in potentially disclosing HIV-positive test results: a study of low-income women attending an urban clinic

Sexual Health ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Crosby ◽  
Elizabeth A. Bonney ◽  
Lydia Odenat

Background: The study identified correlates of women’s perception that testing positive for HIV would be very difficult to communicate to friends, family members and sex partners. We also determined whether perceived disclosure difficulty was associated with HIV-testing intent. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 143 women attending an urgent care centre in Atlanta, Georgia. The centre served primarily low-income or indigent African–American women. A three-item scale (α = 0.81) assessed disclosure difficulty. Assessed correlates included selected social/contextual factors and intrapersonal factors. Results: In controlled multivariate analyses, only the social/contextual factors were associated with HIV disclosure difficulty. Women perceiving an inability to cope with positive results were more likely to report high disclosure difficulty (P = 0.01). Women perceiving an inadequate support system and those believing that HIV would substantially complicate their lives were more likely to anticipate high disclosure difficulty (P = 0.006 and P = 0.03, respectively). Disclosure difficulty was not associated with intent for HIV-testing ‘today’ (P = 0.50) or within the next 12 months (P = 0.27). Conclusion: Findings provide initial evidence suggesting that selected social/contextual factors rather than intrapersonal factors are associated with anticipated disclosure difficulty of HIV-positive test results among low-income minority women, residing in the urban south. High levels of anticipated disclosure difficulty may not preclude HIV test acceptance.

Sexual Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Bell ◽  
Jordi Casabona ◽  
Nino Tsereteli ◽  
Dorthe Raben ◽  
John de Wit

Background The aim of this study was to assess perceptions of health professionals involved in HIV testing policy and practice in national settings across the WHO European Region regarding the delivery of HIV test results, post-test discussion and referral to specialist HIV services as recommended in authoritative guidelines. Methods: An online self-report survey was completed by a convenience sample of 338 respondents (response rate 34.1%) from 55 countries. Respondents worked with non-government organisations (49.4%), health services (32.8%), non-health service government agencies (6.2%) or other organisations (11.5%; e.g. prisons, education and research, international development). Results: Experts’ perceptions indicate that delivery of HIV-positive test results and related post-test discussion in their country generally corresponded to recommendations. However, results pointed to a significant gap perceived by experts between recommendations and the practice of delivering HIV-negative test results. Fewer respondents thought that suitable time is taken to deliver a negative HIV-test result (54.1%) than a positive result (73.1%). Also, fewer respondents thought there was a procedure for referral to specialist treatment, care and support services for people receiving a HIV-negative test result (34.9%) than for people receiving an HIV-positive test result (86.2%). Experts also reported low perceived use of communication technologies (i.e. telephone, email, text messaging, a secure website) for delivering HIV test results. Conclusions: This expert survey offers new insight into perceived HIV post-test practices in almost all national settings across the WHO European Region. The findings provide valuable guidance for future HIV testing guidelines for the WHO European Region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulmaz Ghahramani ◽  
Hassan Joulaei ◽  
Amir Human Hoveidaei ◽  
Mohammad Reza Rajabi ◽  
Kamran Bagheri Lankarani

Background: Hospital admission for any reason provides the situation for voluntary HIV testing and consultation. Identifying the predictors of positivity may lead to a cost-effective method while enhancing professionalism. Objectives: To find the predictors of HIV-positive test result in a general hospital in Shiraz compared to a control group. Methods: In this case-control study, the records of all patients who received HIV testing upon their hospitalization in a general hospital in Shiraz, south of Iran, from January 2017 to the end of December 2017 were reviewed. For each HIV-positive case, at least one control from the same ward in the hospital with negative HIV test result was randomly selected. Based on the best-fitted model of logistic regression, the probability of positive HIV test results was estimated for each participant according to the risk factors, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn. Results: Out of 7333 persons who accepted to be tested, 77 patients tested positive for HIV, of whom 55 (71.4%) were male with the mean age of 41.5 ± 9.5 years. None of the HIV-positive patients were intravenous drug users, nor had they a history of imprisonment. The odds ratio (OR) was 21 for hepatitis-positive patients (hepatitis B and/or C) compared to negative ones, which was seven times higher in opium addicts than non-opium addicts. We developed a model using age, sex, opium addiction, and HBV and HCV status to predict the probability of being positive for HIV with an AUC of 0.853 (95% confidence interval 0.797 to 0.909). Conclusions: Hospital admission could be an appropriate momentum for providing voluntary counseling and testing. Infection with HBV and HCV are important risk factors for HIV infection, and additional testing should be offered, especially to these patients.


2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 661-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
A K Mbonye ◽  
K S Hansen ◽  
F Wamono ◽  
P Magnussen

This study explored perceptions and care-seeking practices for HIV testing and contraception in order to obtain data for designing effective interventions to increase contraception among HIV-positive women. A triangulation of methods (household survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews) were conducted in Wakiso district, central Uganda from January to April 2009. Results show that a majority of women, 2062/2896 (71.2%) would like to have an HIV test, while access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) was low at 237/879 (27%). Of the women who were on ART, 133/266 (50.0%) could not use contraception due to negative perceptions that a combination of ART and contraceptives would weaken them, as these drugs were perceived to be ‘strong’. Fear of side-effects for contraceptives and resistance from spouses were other main reasons. Constraints to HIV testing included fear of clients knowing their own HIV status and fear of their spouses’ reactions to the test results. Private midwives were identified as a potential outlet for delivering contraception to HIV-positive women.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne D Stekler ◽  
Lauren R Violette ◽  
Lisa Niemann ◽  
Vanessa M McMahan ◽  
David A Katz ◽  
...  

Abstract Regular HIV testing is required to ensure the safety of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We describe and discuss a series of false-positive HIV test results from an individual receiving PrEP. The expansion of PrEP will likely result in greater numbers of false-positive test results that may pose challenges for interpretation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 1017-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiela M. Strauss ◽  
Sherry Deren ◽  
David M. Rindskopf ◽  
Gregory P. Falkin

Many HIV positive drug users are unaware that they have the virus, either because they never obtained testing for HIV or because they submitted a biological specimen for testing but never returned to obtain the result of the test. Using data collected from a large multi-site sample of out-of-treatment HIV positive drug users (N=1,544), we identify a variety of socio-demographic characteristics and drug use and sexual risk behaviors that differentiate HIV-positive individuals who had obtained HIV testing in the past and those who had not and, among those who had been tested, what differentiates individuals who had returned to obtain their HIV test results and those who had failed to return. Results of the analyses suggest that there is a need to target different subgroups of high risk drug users for interventions to obtain HIV testing as compared with those that need encouragement to obtain the results of this testing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose Kisa ◽  
Joseph K. B. Matovu ◽  
Esther Buregyeya ◽  
William Musoke ◽  
Caroline J. Vrana-Diaz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background According to the user instructions from the manufacturer of OraQuick HIV self-test (HIVST) kits, individuals whose kits show one red band should be considered to be HIV-negative, no matter how weak the band is. However, recent reports show potential for a second false weak band after storage, thereby creating confusion in the interpretation of results. In this study, we re-tested individuals whose results were initially non-reactive but changed to weak reactive results to determine their true HIV status. Methods This study was nested within a large, cluster-randomized HIVST trial implemented among pregnant women attending antenatal care and their male partners in central Uganda between July 2016 and February 2017. Ninety-five initially HIV-negative respondents were enrolled into this study, including 52 whose kits developed a second weak band while in storage and 43 whose kits were interpreted as HIV-positive by interviewers at the next follow-up interview. Respondents were invited to return for repeat HIVST which was performed under the observation of a trained nurse counsellor. After HIVST, respondents underwent blood-based rapid HIV testing as per the national HIV testing algorithm (Determine (Abbot Laboratories), STAT-PAK (Chembio Diagnostic Systems Inc.) and Unigold (Trinity Biotech plc.) and dry blood spots were obtained for DNA/PCR testing. DNA/PCR was considered as the gold-standard HIV testing method. Results After repeat HIVST, 90 (94.7%) tested HIV-negative; 2 (2.1%) tested HIV-positive; and 3 (3.2%) had missing HIV test results. When respondents were subjected to blood-based rapid HIV testing, 97.9% (93/95) tested HIV-negative while 2.1% (2/95) tested HIV-positive. Finally, when the respondents were subjected to DNA/PCR, 99% (94/95) tested HIV-negative while 1.1% (1/95) tested HIV-positive. Conclusions Nearly all initially HIV-negative individuals whose HIVST kits developed a second weak band while in storage or were interpreted as HIV-positive by interviewers were found to be HIV-negative after confirmatory DNA/PCR HIV testing. These findings suggest a need for HIV-negative individuals whose HIVST results change to false positive while under storage or under other sub-optimal conditions to be provided with an option for repeat testing to determine their true HIV status.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giang T. Le ◽  
Duc H. Bui ◽  
Diep T. Vu ◽  
Duong C. Thanh ◽  
Nghia V. Khuu ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo describe the implementation and preliminary results of returning HIV test results to participants in Vietnam HIV sentinel surveillance.IntroductionKnowledge of one’s HIV serostatus helps improve quality of life for those who test positive and decreases the risk of HIV transmission. WHO recommends that all participants in HIV prevalence surveys be provided access to their test results, especially those who test HIV positive [1]. Anonymous Vietnam HIV sentinel surveillance (HSS), implemented since 1994, focuses on people who inject drugs (PWID), female sex workers (FSW), and men who have sex with men (MSM) [2]. According to national guidelines, the HIV testing algorithm for surveillance purposes was based on two tests whereas the diagnostic algorithm for individuals was based on three tests. Thus, surveillance test results could not be returned to participants [3] who were instead encouraged to learn their HIV serostatus by testing at public confirmatory testing sites.In 2015, a three-test strategy was applied as part of HSS so that test results could be returned to participants.MethodsIn 2015, return of HIV test results was implemented as a pilot in 16 HSS provinces. HSS participants were asked to identify which of the designated HIV testing and counselling centers (HTC) in the province was most convenient for them. Participants were then given appointment cards with an assigned survey ID to receive their test results at the chosen venue at a specific date and time. Specimens, with assigned survey IDs, were transferred to the respective HIV laboratory at the Province AIDS Center (PAC) for confirmatory testing. The same three-test algorithm was used for surveillance purposes as well as to return confirmatory test results to participants [3]. Final test results were classified as “positive”, “negative” or “indeterminate”. HIV confirmatory test results were made available at all designated HTC in the provinces within 10 days after blood collection; thus, if a participant presented at a location, date or time that differed from the appointment card, s/he could still receive the test result. In some settings in which provinces integrated HSS with either static or mobile HTC, three rapid tests were used at point-of-care so that same-day test results were available. In this case, participants received test results at the end of the specified time regardless of their infection status.At the HTC, individuals showed their appointment cards. The IDs were used to identify the correct test results which were then given verbally to participants by HTC counsellors. Test results were not returned by phone or email. Individuals who tested positive were immediately referred to HIV treatment and other available health/social services in the province.The proportion of participants who received their test results was calculated for each survey group and province.ResultsThe number of provinces that reported returning of HIV test results in 2015 and 2016 were 14 and 15, respectively. Overall, among 15,530 persons tested through HSS in 2015 and 2016, 7,354 persons returned to receive their test results. The proportion of participants who returned for test results varied by province and survey population (table 1). In some provinces where HSS was integrated with HTC, such as Hai Phong and Dong Thap, 100% of participants received their test results within a day [4].ConclusionsReturning HIV test results to HIV surveillance participants is feasible and beneficial in low-income countries like Vietnam. This enhancement facilitates participants learning their serostatus and contributes toward Vietnam’s achievement of HIV control [4]. Based on the pilot experiences, Vietnam Ministry of Health decided to extend test result notifications to all 20 HSS provinces in 2017.Key factors that contributed to the success of the activity were fast turnaround time, roles and level of commitment of PAC, and coordination between the survey and HTC. The returning rate in HSS 2015 and 2016 are promising but these could be improved further. Better coordination and commitment between the survey and HIV testing service are needed to further increase return rates so that HIV-positive individuals can learn their serostatus and be better linked to care and treatment services.References1. WHO, Guidelines for second generation HIV surveillance: An update: Know your epidemic, 2013.2. VAAC, Guidance for epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS & sexually transmitted infections, 2012.3. MOH, National guideline on HIV serology testing, in Decision 1098/QD-BYT, 2013.4. VAAC, Primarily results of HSS, 2016. 


1995 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-444
Author(s):  
William O. Fabbri

Currently the number of AIDS-related deaths in the United States has reached 311,000 and at least one million more Americans are infected with HIV. Of those one million or more infected, many spread the virus unknowingly as approximately forty percent of those infected have never been tested. More than eighty-five percent of the U.S. population has never been tested for HIV. No cure or vaccine for HIV currently exists.The federal and state governments have set up a patchwork of free and confidential HIV testing at local clinics. States have enacted a variety of legislation concerning HIV testing and test results. Most states have enacted statutes that require informed consent for an HIV test to be conducted. All states require the reporting of AIDS cases, and many also require the reporting of HIV-positive status to state public health departments. Furthermore, many states mandate certain requirements for HIV counseling.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago S. Torres ◽  
Lara E. Coelho ◽  
Kelika A. Konda ◽  
E. Hamid Vega-Ramirez ◽  
Oliver A. Elorreaga ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Despite efforts to stop HIV epidemic in Latin America, new HIV cases continue to increase in the region especially among young MSM (YMSM). This study aims to assess if sociodemographic characteristics are associated with self-reported HIV positive status among YMSM from three Latin American countries. Methods Cross-sectional web-based survey advertised on dating apps (Grindr and Hornet) and Facebook in Brazil, Mexico and Peru. For this analysis, we included YMSM aged 18–24 years who self-reported their HIV status. We used multivariable logistic regression models for each country separately to verify if sociodemographic characteristics (race, education and income) were associated with HIV self-reported status after adjusting for behavior characteristics (sexual attraction and steady partner). Results Among 43,687 MSM who initiated the questionnaire, 27,318 (62.5%) reported their HIV status; 7001 (25.6%) of whom were YMSM. Most YMSM (83.4%) reported an HIV test in the past year, and 15.7% reported an HIV positive status in Peru, 8.4% in Mexico and 7.7% in Brazil. In adjusted models, low-income was associated with higher odds of self-reported HIV positive status in Brazil (aOR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.01–1.75) and Peru (aOR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.02–2.40), but not in Mexico. Lower education was associated with higher odds of self-reported HIV positive status only in Brazil (aOR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.05–1.75). Conclusions In this large, cross-country study, self-reported HIV positive status among YMSM was high. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with higher odds of self-reported HIV positive status in Brazil and Peru. There is an urgent need for HIV prevention interventions targeting YMSM, and efforts to address low-income YMSM are especially needed in Peru and Brazil.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document