Notification of HIV carriers: possible effect on uptake of AIDS testing

Passing of the AIDS Prevention Bill, which demands the notification of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carriers, seems imminent in Japan. Its effect on people's willingness to be tested for the HIV antibody was assessed among heterosexual subjects (students, office workers) and groups at high risk of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (prostitutes, homosexual males) by means of a questionnaire. More than 70% of the 811 students and the 509 workers replied that, if notification became mandatory, they would agree to be tested but 10% of the males and 17% of the females in these two groups would prefer testing at institutes not complying with the clause; all 198 prostitutes said they would be prepared to undergo testing but 35% of them would prefer to go to non-complying clinics; 45% (410) of the 902 homosexual males replied that they would refuse testing, and 65% of those who agreed to be tested (492) would prefer to go to non-complying clinics....