Preferred HIV testing services and programme characteristics among clients of a rapid HIV testing programme

Juan Hoyos,María Elena Rosales-Statkus,María José Belza,Luis De La Fuente,Sonia Fernández-Balbuena,José Pulido

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-791

Abstract

BackgroundIn the current context of diversity and coexistence of HIV testing approaches, limited information exists on test recipient’s views of HIV testing services and programme attributes that could ease the testing process and make it more appealing for at risk individuals who don’t know their HIV status. This study analyzed ratings given to different testing sites and programme characteristics that might facilitate testing.MethodsWe analyzed data from 3120 persons attending a mobile HIV testing programme located on a central street in the gay district of Madrid.Results64% were men (of which, 55% had had sex with other men), 59.5% were <30 years, 35.4% foreigners, 50.6% had a university degree,71.7% a regular employment, 59.3% reported multiple partners and inconsistent condom use and 56.5% had been tested for HIV. Non Governmental Organizations and specific HIV/STI centres received the maximum rating from over 60% of participants, followed by self-testing (38.9%). Pharmacies (20.8%) and hospital emergency departments (14.2%) were the worst valued testing sites. Over 80% gave the highest rating to having immediate test results, not needing a previous appointment, and free testing, while less than 50% gave the maximum rating to privacy and anonymity.ConclusionsHIV testing services that don’t require an appointment, based on free tests with rapid results are most valued by a young, not socially marginalized but high risk sexual exposure population. On the contrary, issues traditionally highly valued by health care providers or AIDS social organizations (privacy and anonymity) are much less valued.

Highlights

In the current context of diversity and coexistence of HIV testing approaches, limited information exists on test recipient’s views of HIV testing services and programme attributes that could ease the testing process and make it more appealing for at risk individuals who don’t know their HIV status
Participants were asked to rate on a Likert scale their personal preference for each of the six testing sites (0 = Not at all preferred – 5 strongly preferred) and the importance given to the five characteristics listed (0 = Not at all important – 5 = Very important)
Some 14.7% (n = 145) of men who have sex with men (MSM) had ever been paid for sex versus 5.5% (n = 46) of MSW and 6.0% (n = 65) of women

Summary

Introduction

In the current context of diversity and coexistence of HIV testing approaches, limited information exists on test recipient’s views of HIV testing services and programme attributes that could ease the testing process and make it more appealing for at risk individuals who don’t know their HIV status. The few studies analyzing HIV testing preferences from the participant’s perspective were conducted before consolidation of the community based testing strategies, mainly in the United States, whereas no information is available from countries with different health systems like those in the European Union [5,12,13,14,15]. The acceptability of programmes offering rapid HIV testing in pharmacies has never been examined. This community service is accessible and constitutes another innovative alternative to improve access to testing for people who have little contact with the health system [16,17]. Identifying the services, factors and attributes that facilitate the decision to obtain a test for HIV could help remove the barriers to testing, increase testing coverage in persons at risk and target people with unrecognized HIV infection

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion