scholarly journals Decreasing Trends in HIV Testing among Adults in Georgia: Analysis of the 2010-2014 BRFSS Data

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin E. Ansa ◽  
Sashia White ◽  
Yunmi Chung ◽  
Selina A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
The United States ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
High Risk Behaviors ◽  
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance ◽  
Risk Factor Surveillance ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
Living With Hiv

Georgia is ranked fifth highest among states for rates of HIV diagnosis. About 4% of persons living with HIV infection in the United States reside in Georgia, and almost 19% of these people do not know their HIV status. The present study examined the trends and associated factors of HIV testing among adults in Georgia between 2010 and 2014 by analyzing data of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). A total of 30,791 persons aged ≥18 years were identified who responded to the question “Have you ever been tested for HIV?” Overall, there were 11,543 respondents who had been tested for HIV, with a decrease in percentage from 49.4% in 2010 to 43.7% in 2014 (p<0.001). Factors associated with HIV testing were being black (p<0.001), being younger than 55 years (p<0.001), single (p=0.02), attaining education level above high school (P<0.001), engaging in HIV high-risk behaviors (p<0.001), and not having healthcare coverage (p=0.03). Overall in Georgia, there has been a decline in the temporal trend of HIV testing, and more than half of adults have never been tested for HIV. For reducing HIV transmission in Georgia, enhancing access and utilization of HIV testing should be a public health priority.

scholarly journals Estimating Gains in HIV Testing by Expanding HIV Screening at Routine Checkups

2021 ◽  
pp. e1-e4
Author(s):  
Deesha Patel ◽  
Weston O. Williams ◽  
Janet Heitgerd ◽  
Nicole Taylor-Aidoo ◽  
Elizabeth A. DiNenno
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Hiv Screening ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance ◽  
Risk Factor Surveillance ◽  
Missed Opportunity

Objectives. To estimate gains in the prevalence of individuals who had ever been tested for HIV overall and by subpopulations from increases in the percentage of persons who had a routine checkup and were tested. Methods. We used data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to determine the prevalence of individuals who were ever tested for HIV and the prevalence of missed opportunities for HIV testing among those never tested in the United States. We assessed the effect of absolute percentage increases in having ever been tested among those who had a past-year routine checkup on increasing the overall prevalence of having ever been tested. Results. In 2019, 49.5% of US adults had ever been tested for HIV; 34.5% had a missed opportunity. A 50% increase in testing at routine checkups would increase the prevalence of having ever been tested to 84.0%. Increases in the prevalence of having ever been tested ($85%) was highest among persons aged 35 to 54 years, Black persons, persons who were female at birth, persons with health insurance, and persons reporting HIV risk behaviors. Conclusions. Fully incorporating HIV screening into primary care would greatly increase the proportion of US adults who have been tested for HIV. Public Health Implications.Continued efforts to promote HIV testing, including implementing routine screening in clinical settings, will help ensure that all US adults know their HIV status. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print June 29, 2021: e1–e4. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306321 )

scholarly journals State Trends in HIV Testing Among US Adults Aged 18-64 Years, 2011-2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-510
Author(s):  
Amy Krueger ◽  
Christopher Johnson ◽  
Janet Heitgerd ◽  
Deesha Patel ◽  
Norma Harris
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
District Of Columbia ◽  
State Level ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
System Data ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Low Prevalence

Objectives HIV testing identifies persons living with HIV and can lead to treatment, decreased risk behaviors, and reduced transmission. The objective of our study was to describe state-level trends in HIV testing in the general US adult population aged 18-64 years, for both ever tested for HIV and tested for HIV in the previous 12 months. Methods Using 2011-2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, we estimated the percentage of the state population, plus the District of Columbia, aged 18-64 years ever tested for HIV and tested for HIV in the previous 12 months. The 50 states and the District of Columbia were grouped according to the estimated prevalence of HIV in 2011. We used orthogonal contrasts to calculate P values for linear trends. Results The percentage of the population ever tested for HIV increased significantly in 23 states during 2011-2017, whereas the percentage tested for HIV in the previous 12 months increased significantly in 8 states. In 2017, the mean percentage ever tested for HIV in states with a high prevalence of HIV was 8.6 percentage points higher than the mean percentage in states with a low prevalence of HIV (48.5% vs 39.9%); the mean increase in the percentage ever tested was highest (11.4%) in states with a low prevalence of HIV. Conclusion Enhanced efforts by states to make HIV testing simple, accessible, and routine are needed to reduce the number of persons who are not aware of their infection.

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