HIV prevention: factors that predict compliance with testing and counseling procedures

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and pretest/posttest counseling are central components in prevention efforts in the United States. Yet, not all persons return for their test results and posttest counseling. Based on an exploratory study at four community health centers in South Florida, the authors determined the percentage of patients who returned to these clinics. They also examined those sociodemographic and HIV antibody test-related factors that predicted patient return. Less than 50% of those patients tested returned. Younger, urban, minority group patients whose HIV serostatus was likely to be negative were the least likely to return for test results. The authors describe a direction of future research to address these disturbing findings.