HIV TESTING BEHAVIORS IN A POPULATION OF INNER-CITY WOMEN AT HIGH-RISK FOR HIV-INFECTION

The relationship between HIV testing history, HIV serostatus, and risk behaviors was examined to investigate factors associated with obtaini ng an HIV test, returning for results, or receiving multiple tests. Se ven hundred and five volunteers for an HIV study were questioned about prior HIV testing, drug and sexual practices, and sociodemographic ch aracteristics. Women who reported a prior HIV test were compared with those without a previous test; women who returned for test results wer e compared with those not returning; and women who reported multiple t ests were compared with those having only one test. Seventy-five perce nt of the women reported a prior test; 12% had not returned for test r esults; 46% reported multiple tests. Women reporting higher levels of HIV risk behaviors were more likely to have been tested and to return for results. Injection drug use and having four or more sex partners w ere significantly associated with repeated HIV testing. Over one third of the women with substantial HIV risk practices had not been HIV tes ted or failed to obtain test results. Women who obtained multiple HIV tests were more likely to report high-risk practices in spite of havin g received risk counseling with repeated testing.