BEHAVIORAL RISKS FOR HIV-INFECTION ASSOCIATED WITH HIV-TESTING DECISIONS

Adolescent and adult women were offered HIV testing as part of a clini c-based research program on HIV/AIDS in New York City. Sixty-four perc ent consented to testing and 87% of those tested returned to receive t heir results. This paper uses two-stage regression methods to identify sexual behavioral risk factors for HIV infection associated with the decision to accept the HIV test and subsequently to return for the res ults. Of the risk factors examined, having more than a single sex part ner and never using a condom in the last year were strong predictors o f taking the test; three or more sex partners had the strongest effect s on the decision to return for the HIV test results. We conclude that voluntary HIV testing in this group can identify women with behaviora l risks of HIV infection. Thus, voluntary HIV testing may be effective in targeting persons at high risk because behavioral risks are associ ated with the decision to take the HIV test.