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Achieving high acceptability of HIV testing in a population-based survey among immigrants in Finland
Paula J Tiittala1, Pia S Kivelä2, Matti A Ristola2
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland paula.tiittala@hus.fi.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among migrants in Finland and the factors contributing to non-acceptance.
Methods:
The Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study 'Maamu' was the first national population-based Health Interview and Examination Survey (HIS/HES) among migrants in Finland. A total of 386 Kurdish, Russian and Somali immigrants in Helsinki participated in the study.
Results:
Despite the participants' different sociodemographic backgrounds, a high rate of test acceptability (92%, 95% CI 90-95) was achieved. HIV test acceptance was associated with pretest counselling, ability to understand spoken Finnish or Swedish and employment status. No participants tested positive for HIV.
Conclusions:
The results imply that a universal HIV testing strategy is well accepted in a low-HIV prevalence immigrant population and can be included in a general health examination in immigrant population-based surveys.
