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Preferred HIV testing services and programme characteristics among clients of a rapid HIV testing programme
Juan Hoyos1, María José Belza, Sonia Fernández-Balbuena
1CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), C/Monforte de Lemos, nº 35, 28029 Madrid, Spain. mbelza@isciii.es.
BMC Public Health
|August 31, 2013
Summary
Free, immediate HIV testing without appointments is preferred by at-risk individuals. Services like NGOs and self-testing are highly rated, while pharmacies and ERs are less favored.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Social Science
Background:
- Limited understanding of user preferences for HIV testing services.
- Need to identify appealing attributes for individuals unaware of their HIV status.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze recipient views on HIV testing sites and program features.
- Identify factors that can enhance the HIV testing process.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 3120 individuals attending a mobile HIV testing program in Madrid.
- Collected ratings on various testing sites and program characteristics.
Main Results:
- NGOs, specific HIV/STI centers, and self-testing received high ratings.
- Immediate results, no appointment needed, and free testing were highly valued (>80%).
- Pharmacies and hospital emergency departments were poorly rated; privacy/anonymity less valued (<50%).
Conclusions:
- Accessible HIV testing (no appointment, free, rapid results) is crucial for young, high-risk populations.
- User preferences for HIV testing differ from traditional healthcare provider priorities.
