Healthcare-related correlates of recent HIV testing in New York City

To examine healthcare-related correlates of recent HIV testing among New York City (NYC) residents, controlling for socio-demographic and HIV-related risk factors.

Using the NYC 2007 Community Health Survey (population-based telephone survey, n=8911), recent HIV testing was examined for its association with healthcare-related variables, including medical screening for other conditions, controlling for other HIV testing correlates using multiple logistic regression.

Factors associated with a recent HIV test included: provider recommendation for an HIV test (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 10.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]:7.6-13.5), Medicaid versus private insurance (AOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.1), and having a personal doctor (AOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.3-2.1). The proportion of HIV tests attributed to each factor (attributable-fraction [AF]) was 49% for provider recommendation, 33% for having a personal doctor, and 8.3% for Medicaid insurance. Among subgroups eligible for other medical screening, factors associated with recent HIV testing included recent receipt of blood lipid testing (AOR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.6-3.0; AF: 45%), and Pap smear (AOR: 2.7, 95% CI: 2.1-3.5; AF: 52%). Recent receipt of mammography and colonoscopy was not associated with recent HIV testing.

A substantial proportion of recent HIV testing coverage among New Yorkers may be attributable to healthcare-related factors. Joint medical screening may provide opportunities to increase population HIV testing coverage.