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Routine, voluntary HIV testing in Durban, South Africa: correlates of HIV infection *
Author(s) -
Bassett IV,
Giddy J,
Wang B,
Lu Z,
Losina E,
Freedberg KA,
Walensky RP
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
hiv medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.53
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1468-1293
pISSN - 1464-2662
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2008.00635.x
Subject(s) - medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , confidence interval , psychological intervention , odds ratio , demography , logistic regression , marital status , hiv test , young adult , population , family medicine , environmental health , health facility , psychiatry , health services , sociology
Background Routine HIV testing is increasingly recommended in resource‐limited settings. Our objective was to evaluate factors associated with a new diagnosis of HIV infection in a routine HIV testing programme in South Africa. Methods We established a routine HIV testing programme in an out‐patient department in Durban, South Africa. All registered adults were offered a rapid HIV test; we surveyed a sample of tested patients. Results During the 12‐week study, 1414 adults accepted HIV testing. Of those, 463 (32.7%) were HIV‐infected. Seven hundred and twenty (50.9%) were surveyed. Compared with married women, unmarried men were at the highest risk of HIV [odds ratio (OR) 6.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.45–23.55], followed by unmarried women (OR 5.90; 95% CI 3.25–10.70) and married men (OR 4.00; 95% CI 2.04–7.83). Age 30–39 years (compared with ≥50 years; OR 5.10; 95% CI 2.86–9.09), no prior HIV test (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.07–2.27) and an imperfect HIV knowledge score (OR 2.32; 95% CI 1.24–4.35) were also associated with HIV infection. Conclusion In a routine HIV testing programme in South Africa, rates of previously undiagnosed HIV were highest among men, young and unmarried patients, and those with poorer HIV knowledge. Better interventions are needed to improve HIV knowledge and decrease HIV risk behaviour.