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Sexually transmitted disease rates before and after HIV testing
1Department of Clinical Health Psychology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
International Journal of STD & AIDS
|June 25, 1998
Summary
HIV testing did not increase sexual risk behavior. New sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections decreased by 40% in the year following HIV testing, regardless of test results.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Sexual Health
Background:
- Understanding the impact of HIV testing on subsequent sexual risk behavior is crucial for public health interventions.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the behavioral effects of HIV status disclosure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the influence of HIV-positive and HIV-negative test results on sexual risk behaviors.
- To determine changes in the incidence of sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections before and after HIV testing.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal retrospective case-note survey was conducted.
- 114 HIV-positive and 114 matched HIV-negative subjects were analyzed.
- New STD infections were identified at a Genitourinary Medicine Department.
Main Results:
- Overall, new STD infections decreased by 40% in the year after HIV testing compared to the year prior.
- No significant association was found between HIV serostatus and the incidence of STDs before or after testing.
- The rate of new STDs was 5.3% in the year after testing for those who tested negative and 2.6% for those who tested positive.
Conclusions:
- HIV testing, irrespective of result, was not associated with an increased risk of acquiring new STDs.
- The incidence of new STDs among individuals testing HIV-positive was notably low in the year following their test.