Achieving high acceptability of HIV testing in a population-based survey among immigrants in Finland

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of public health Vol. 43; no. 4; p. 393
• Main Authors: Tiittala, Paula J, Kivelä, Pia S, Ristola, Matti A, Surcel, Heljä-Marja, Koponen, Päivikki M S, Mölsä, Mulki, Ollgren, Jukka, Liitsola, Kirsi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Communication Barriers; Counseling - statistics & numerical data; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Female; Finland; HIV Infections - diagnosis; Humans; Language; Male; Mass Screening - utilization; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Risk Factors; Finland; Immigrant population-based study; acceptability of HIV testing; health interview and examination survey (HIS/HES); universal HIV testing
• ISSN: 1651-1905
• DOI: 10.1177/1403494815573604

The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among migrants in Finland and the factors contributing to non-acceptance. The Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study 'Maamu' was the first national population-based Health Interview and Examination Survey (HIS/HES) among migrants in Finland. A total of 386 Kurdish, Russian and Somali immigrants in Helsinki participated in the study. Despite the participants' different sociodemographic backgrounds, a high rate of test acceptability (92%, 95% CI 90-95) was achieved. HIV test acceptance was associated with pretest counselling, ability to understand spoken Finnish or Swedish and employment status. No participants tested positive for HIV. The results imply that a universal HIV testing strategy is well accepted in a low-HIV prevalence immigrant population and can be included in a general health examination in immigrant population-based surveys.