Demographic and Behavioral Factors Associated With HIV Testing in China

Abstract

HIV testing and counseling are entry points to HIV-related care and prevention services and provide opportunities for people to reduce their risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV. High priority should be given to scaling up HIV testing and counseling to maximize the opportunities to reach those with HIV infection or at high risk.1 Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is an important testing strategy for identifying HIV positives. VCT in China was not widely known and available until December 2003, when the Chinese government announced the “Four Frees and One Care” policy, which included free VCT.2 We conducted a study among a general population sample rather than a high-risk group, with the collection of both demographic and behavioral data, to examine potential factors associated with VCT uptake in the population.