Two
separate HIV Testing Surveys were conducted to assess experiences regarding
the willingness of persons at high risk for HIV infection to pursue HIV
testing. HITS 1 was conducted in Arizona from July 1, 1995 through June 18
1996. Joining Arizona were seven other state health departments along with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and the University of
California, San Francisco.
The specific aims of the study were the following: 1) to assess the
relationship of named reporting policies on the willingness of at-risk persons
to obtain HIV testing; 2) perceived obstacles to HIV testing; and 3) knowledge
of HIV testing and reporting laws and policies.
Individuals considered at high risk for becoming infected with HIV were asked
to participate in face-to-face, anonymous interviews. Three groups were
recruited for this study: 1) high risk heterosexuals seeking treatment in the
Maricopa County STD clinic: 2) homosexual/bisexual men in gay bars in Phoenix
and Tucson; and 3) injecting drug users recruiting through regular street
outreach done by a local drug treatment center in the Phoenix metropolitan
area. 100 individuals were interviewed in each group for a total of 300.
HITS 2, conducted from August 1998 through February 1999, was modified from
the original HITS 1 in the following ways: 1) knowledge of HIV reporting laws
and barriers to seeking HIV testing was de-emphasized; 2) HITS 2 will be used
as a surveillance methodology for monitoring behaviors that put persons at
increased risk for HIV; and 3) the study will help evaluate the impact of
recent events on the individual's decision to seek HIV testing, for instance
the availability of drug therapies that have significantly improved the
prognosis of HIV infected persons; improved HIV testing technology (e.g., the
availability of home collection kits and OraSure) and the CDC recommendation
that all states implement named HIV reporting. Three-hundred HITS 2 surveys
were completed.
For analysis of aggregate HITS data, see the following links.
http://www.thebody.com/cdc/news_updates_archive/2003/jan13_03/hiv_testing.html
http://www.thebody.com/cdc/news_updates_archive/nov8_02/hiv_reporting.html
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/stats/special-reportVol1No1/Commentary.htm |
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