Related Experiment Videos
Voluntary HIV antibody testing among STD clinic patients: a pilot study
A M McDonald1, B M Whyte, D Jacobs
1National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales.
The Medical Journal of Australia
|July 2, 1990
Summary
Voluntary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is acceptable in sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. However, routine implementation requires significant resources for counseling services.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics are key sites for HIV prevention and care.
- Understanding patient acceptance of voluntary HIV testing is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the acceptability of voluntary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing among patients attending STD clinics.
- To assess HIV testing uptake across different patient demographics and transmission categories.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study conducted in three STD clinics (two public, one private) over three months.
- Data collection included patient demographics, HIV transmission category, previous HIV test results, and testing requests/acceptance.
- Analysis of 784 patients who requested testing and 55% acceptance rate among those offered testing.
Main Results:
- Overall, 70% of patients completed HIV antibody testing.
- Acceptance rates varied, with homosexual men showing the lowest acceptance (45%) but the highest seropositivity (11%).
- Of previously seronegative patients, 78% were retested, with seven testing positive for HIV.
Conclusions:
- Voluntary HIV antibody testing is acceptable in both public and private STD clinic settings.
- Routine HIV testing requires substantial allocation of resources for counseling.
- Targeted interventions may be needed for specific populations, like homosexual men, to improve testing uptake and linkage to care.