Factors Associated with Time Since Last HIV Test Among Persons at High Risk for HIV Infection, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006-2010

AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2015 Oct;29(10):533-40. doi: 10.1089/apc.2015.0078. Epub 2015 Jul 21.

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual HIV screening for persons at high risk for HIV infection. We assessed the testing history and factors associated with recent testing (tested in the last 12 months) among persons at high risk for HIV infection. We analyzed 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth data and classified respondents aged 15-44 who reported a sexual or drug-use risk behavior in the past year as 'high-risk'. Logistic regression models estimated prevalence ratios assessing the association between demographic and health-related factors and having been recently tested for HIV compared with never been tested. Among high-risk men, 29.3% had recently tested for HIV, 30.7% tested more than 12 months ago, and 40.0% had never been tested. Among high-risk women, 38.0% had recently tested, 36.9% tested more than 12 months ago, and 26.1% had never been tested. Compared with men who were aged 15-19, white, heterosexual, and had not recently visited a doctor, men who were aged 40-44, black/African American, homosexual/gay or bisexual, and had visited a doctor in the past year were more likely to have recently tested. Compared with women who were white, had not recently visited a doctor, and had never been pregnant, women more likely to have recently tested were black/African American, had visited a doctor in the past year, and had been pregnant. Approximately two-thirds of high-risk men and women had not been recently tested for HIV. CDC recommendations for annual screening are not being implemented for the majority of persons at risk.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Bisexuality
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • Health Surveys
  • Heterosexuality
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Sex Distribution
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Sexual Partners
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult