Relating HIV testing patterns in Poland to risky and protective behaviour.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Research

Background:

• Early diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is critical for effective treatment and prevention of transmission.
• Understanding HIV testing patterns is essential to identify barriers and improve access to testing services, particularly in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze HIV testing patterns in Poland between 2008-2010.
• To identify factors associated with HIV testing rates among individuals seeking voluntary testing and counseling.
• To investigate the prevalence of repeat testers within key populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 2397 individuals across 30 voluntary HIV testing and counseling sites in Poland.
• Zero-truncated Poisson regression was employed to determine factors associated with HIV testing rates.
• Analysis included demographic data, risk behaviors, and prior testing history.

Main Results:

• Overall, 1% (25/2397) of individuals tested positive for HIV, and 19.6% (470/2397) were repeat testers.
• Men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID) showed higher proportions of repeat testers (37% and 32%, respectively).
• Higher testing rates were associated with being MSM, having multiple sexual partners, high-risk partners, urban residence, and higher education. Inconsistent condom use and sex under alcohol influence were linked to lower testing rates.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant need to enhance HIV testing uptake in Poland, with a particular focus on rural populations.
• Despite higher testing rates in high-risk groups (MSM, PWID), overall testing remains low, suggesting the presence of testing barriers.
• Targeted interventions are necessary to improve access to early HIV diagnosis and reduce virus transmission.