HIV Testing among Men at Risk for Acquiring HIV Infection Before and After the 2006 CDC Recommendations
OBJECTIVES:
Testing
for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the key first step in HIV treatment
and prevention. In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommended annual HIV testing for people at high risk for HIV infection. We
evaluated HIV testing among men with high-risk heterosexual (HRH) contact and
sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM) before and after the CDC
recommendations.
METHODS:
We used
data from the National Survey of Family Growth, 2002 and 2006-2010, to assess
proportions of HRH respondents and MSM reporting HIV testing in the prior 12
months, compare rates of testing before and after release of the 2006 CDC HIV
testing guidelines, and examine demographic variables and receipt of
health-care services as correlates of HIV testing.
RESULTS:
Among
MSM, the proportion tested was 37.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 28.2, 47.2)
in 2002, 38.2% (95% CI 25.9, 52.2) in 2006-2008, and 41.7% (95% CI 29.2, 55.3)
in 2008-2010; among HRH respondents, the proportion was 23.7% (95% CI 20.5,
27.3) in 2002, 24.5% (95% CI 20.9, 28.7) in 2006-2008, and 23.9% (95% CI 20.2,
28.1) in 2008-2010. HIV testing was more likely among MSM and HRH respondents
who received testing or treatment for sexually transmitted disease in the prior
12 months, received a physical examination in the prior 12 months (MSM only),
or were incarcerated in the prior 12 months.
CONCLUSIONS:
The
rate of annual HIV testing was low for men with sexual risk for HIV infection,
and little improvement took place from 2002 to 2006-2010. Interventions aimed
at men at risk, especially MSM, in both nonmedical and health-care settings,
likely could increase HIV testing.
- 1Epidemic Intelligence Service, Atlanta, GA; Current affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.
- 2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
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