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Reasons for HIV antibody testing: plus ca change?
S Chippindale1, P French, D Miller
1Mortimer Market Centre, Camden & Islington CHS NHS Trust, London, UK.
Insights
HIV testing rates and demographics remained stable around World AIDS Day in 1994. Gay individuals were more likely to test positive for HIV, highlighting ongoing transmission risks despite increased awareness.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Genitourinary Medicine
Background:
- Examined HIV testing trends in a London clinic before and after World AIDS Day (WAD) in 1994.
- Compared 1994 data with an earlier HIV awareness campaign (1986-87).
- Assessed patient demographics, sexual orientation, reasons for testing, and risk perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of World AIDS Day on HIV testing behavior.
- To compare HIV testing patterns and outcomes across different demographic and sexual orientation groups.
- To assess changes in reasons for HIV testing and awareness of transmission risks over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient records from a genitourinary medicine clinic.
- Comparison of testing data from the 3 months before and after WAD 1994.
- Analysis of patient-reported vs. counselor-identified risk factors and reasons for testing.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in overall attendance, gender, or proportions of heterosexual, bisexual, and gay test-seekers around WAD 1994.
- Gay test-seekers had a significantly higher likelihood of being HIV positive compared to heterosexuals.
- Reasons for testing included sexual health screening, unprotected sex, casual partners, partner status concerns, and intravenous drug user (IDU) contact.
Conclusions:
- World AIDS Day had no significant impact on the volume or demographics of HIV testing in 1994.
- Gay men remained a key demographic for HIV testing and positive diagnoses.
- Reasons for testing indicated increased awareness of HIV transmission compared to 1986-87, though safer sex practices were not consistently reported.
Abstract:
Patient records in a central London genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic relating to HIV testing were examined and compared for the 3 months immediately before and after World AIDS Day (WAD) in 1994, according to gender and sexual orientation, and the reasons given for testing. Additionally, patient-identified risk was compared with counsellor-identified risk in each case in 1994. Findings were compared with data from the initial HIV awareness campaign in 1986-87. In the 1994 study period, there were no significant differences in overall numbers attending or gender of test-seekers before and after WAD, or proportions of heterosexual, bisexual and gay test-seekers across the time periods. Within each of these groups, gay test seekers were significantly more likely to be HIV positive than heterosexuals, although there were no differences in numbers found positive in each group before and after WAD. Thirty-five per cent (n=268) reported a history of safer sex only, 32% (n=247) said 'sometimes', and 33% (n=249) said 'no'. Overall, the main reasons given for HIV test-seeking included having part of a sexual health screen, having episodes of unprotected sex and/or casual partners, concern over partner's status/monogamy, and intravenous drug user (IDU) contact. Reasons for testing in 1994 reflected greater awareness of HIV transmission compared to 1986-87, although only one-third of those tested reported a history of safer sex.