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HIV infection risk, behaviors, and attitudes about testing: are perceptions changing?
Annette L Adams1, Thomas M Becker, Jodi A Lapidus
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. adamsan@ohsu.edu
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
|October 2, 2003
Summary
High-risk individuals may underestimate their HIV risk despite engaging in risky behaviors. This study establishes a baseline for future HIV prevention efforts in these populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Improved HIV treatments may inadvertently increase risk behaviors among high-risk populations.
- Understanding risk perception is crucial for effective HIV prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare risk behaviors, perceived personal HIV risk, and attitudes toward HIV testing in 1996 versus 1998.
- To identify changes in HIV risk perception and behaviors among key high-risk groups in Oregon.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey data from the HIV Testing Survey (HITS) in 1996 (HITS-I) and 1998 (HITS-II).
- Participants included men who have sex with men (MSM), high-risk heterosexual adults, and intravenous drug users (IDUs).
Main Results:
- Reported risk behaviors remained stable between 1996 and 1998.
- A higher proportion of IDUs in 1998 perceived their HIV risk as low compared to 1996.
- Over half of participants in both years perceived their personal risk for HIV infection as low.
Conclusions:
- High-risk individuals may underestimate their vulnerability to HIV infection.
- Findings provide a baseline for evaluating future HIV prevention interventions and highlight the need for targeted risk communication.