Factors associated with HIV testing among public sector clinic attendees in Johannesburg, South Africa

AIDS Behav. 2010 Aug;14(4):913-21. doi: 10.1007/s10461-008-9462-5. Epub 2008 Oct 18.

Abstract

Uptake of VCT remains low in many sub-Saharan African countries. Men and women aged 15 and older were recruited from a family planning, STI, and VCT clinic in inner-city Johannesburg between 2004 and 2005 to take part in a cross-sectional survey on HIV testing (n = 198). Fourty-eight percent of participants reported previously testing for HIV and, of these, 86.9% reported disclosing their status to their sex partner. In multivariable analyses, individuals whose partners had been tested for HIV were more likely to have tested (AOR 2.92; 95% CI: 1.38-6.20). In addition, those who reported greater blame/shame attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS were less likely to have tested (AOR 0.35; 95% CI: 0.16-0.77) while those reporting more equitable attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS were more likely to have tested (AOR 2.87; 95% CI: 1.20-6.86). Promotion of and increased access to couples HIV testing should be made available within the South African context.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities
  • Counseling
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Hospitals, Public
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Public Sector
  • Sexual Partners*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • South Africa
  • Young Adult