AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 15, Issue 4, 2003, Pages 563-574

HIV testing behaviour among heterosexual migrants in Amsterdam (Article)

Stolte I.G.* , Gras M. , Van Benthem B.H.B. , Coutinho R.A. , Van Den Hoek J.A.R.
  • a Cluster Infectious Diseases, Municipal Health Service, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Municipal Health Service Amsterdam, Cluster of Infectious Diseases, HIV and STI Research, Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, 1000 CE Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Cluster Infectious Diseases, Municipal Health Service, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • c Cluster Infectious Diseases, Municipal Health Service, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, KIT (Royal Tropical Institute), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • d Cluster Infectious Diseases, Municipal Health Service, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Department of Human Retrovirology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • e Cluster Infectious Diseases, Municipal Health Service, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

This cross-sectional study among heterosexual migrant groups in south-eastern Amsterdam, the city area where the largest migrant groups live, provides an insight into HIV testing behaviour in this particular group. Participants were recruited at street locations (May 1997-July 1998) and interviewed using structured questionnaires. They also donated saliva for HIV testing. In total, 705 males and 769 females were included in this study (Afro-Surinamese (45%), Dutch-Antilleans (15%) and West Africans (40%)). Prior HIV testing was reported by 38% of all migrants (556/1479), of which only a minority (28%) had actively requested HIV testing. Multivariate logistic regression showed that not actively requesting HIV testing was more likely among younger (< 23 years) migrants, especially women (ORwomen: 4.79, p < 0.01, ORmen: 1.81, p < 0.05). Furthermore, women without previous STI treatment (OR 2.19, p < 0.05) with Afro-Surinamese ethnicity (OR 2.12, p < 0.05), men without health insurance (OR 2.17, p < 0.05) and with low education (p < 0.01) were also more likely to not actively request HIV testing. Active requests for HIV testing in case of HIV risk should be facilitated by promoting HIV testing and by improving accurate self-assessment of risk for HIV infection, especially among the groups that do not actively request HIV testing. This would increase HIV awareness and provide the opportunity of better medical care earlier in HIV infection.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Netherlands HIV Infections seroconversion Human immunodeficiency virus infection mass screening sexual behavior health promotion multivariate logistic regression analysis human risk assessment middle aged Sexual Partners priority journal Cross-Sectional Studies heterosexuality laboratory test Humans Adolescent male self evaluation female enzyme linked immunosorbent assay high risk population Article lymphocyte count major clinical study adult migration infection risk virus transmission Transients and Migrants acquired immune deficiency syndrome saliva analysis
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0038103888&doi=10.1080%2f0954012031000134791&partnerID=40&md5=6bbc3d0318d125d757fa8fdde0babaca
DOI: 10.1080/0954012031000134791
ISSN: 09540121
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English