Behavior and health beliefs as predictors of HIV testing among women: a prospective study of observed HIV testing

• Published in: AIDS care Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 1062 - 1069
• Main Authors: Fan, Hao, Fife, Kenneth H., Cox, Dena, Cox, Anthony D., Zimet, Gregory D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.08.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Abbreviations; Acceptance; Acceptance tests; Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adult; AIDS; AIDS Serodiagnosis; attitudes; Bias; Clinics; Community health services; Confidence intervals; Decision making; Disease control; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Female; Health behavior; Health belief model; Health beliefs; health knowledge; HIV; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Humans; Infections; Intervention; Longitudinal studies; Mass Screening; Mathematical models; Medical tests; Middle Aged; patient acceptance of health care; point-of-care testing; practice; Prospective Studies; Reasoned action theory; Risk assessment; Self report; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Tests; Viruses; Women; Young Adult; health knowledge; point-of-care testing; practice; attitudes; patient acceptance of health care; Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1442555
• ISSN: 0954-0121; 1360-0451

Much of the research examining predictors of HIV testing has used retrospective self-report to assess HIV testing. Findings. therefore, may be subject to recall bias and to difficulties determining the direction of associations. In this prospective study, we administered surveys to women in community clinics to identify predictors of subsequent observed HIV testing, overcoming these limitations. Eighty-three percent were tested. In the adjusted multivariable model, being born in the U.S., perceived benefits of testing, worries about being infected with HIV, having had more than 15 lifetime sexual partners, and having had one or more casual sexual partners in the previous three months predicted acceptance of testing. Perceived obstacles to testing predicted non-acceptance. Those who had never been tested for HIV and those tested two to five years previously had greater odds of test acceptance than those who had been tested within the last year. The findings from this study with observed testing as the outcome, confirm some of the results from retrospective, self-report studies. Participants made largely rational decisions about testing, reflecting assessments of their risk and their history of HIV testing. Health beliefs are potentially modifiable through behavioral intervention, and such interventions might result in greater acceptance of testing. Abbreviations: HIV: human immunodeficiency virus; AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome; CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; ACASI: audio computer-assisted self-interview; TRA: theory of reasoned action; HBM: Health Belief Model; STI: sexually transmitted infection; STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease; AOR: adjusted odds ratio; CI: confidence interval