HIV-RELATED RISK AND ANTIBODY TESTING - AN URBAN-COMMUNITY SURVEY

The present study investigated patterns of human immunodeficiency viru s (HIV) antibody testing in a diverse urban sample. Five hundred seven ty-nine men and women (representing 88% cooperation and 67% response r ates) were surveyed in Chicago's downtown at mass transit waiting area s. Participants completed measures of demographic information, sexual and HIV-risk behavior histories, information regarding HIV antibody te sting status, and HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and perceptions. Results showed that only 36% of persons with histories of high-risk practices had been tested for HIV. Persons who had been tested, as compared to t hose not tested, were older in age and perceived themselves to be at g reater risk. Results also showed a relationship between participants' knowledge of their own HIV serostatus and inquiring about their sexual partners' serostatus. As compared to persons not tested, those who ha d been tested were more likely to know their most recent sexual partne r's HIV testing status. Results suggest that several factors found amo ng gay men with regard to HIV testing may generalize to populations re presenting diverse HIV-related risk behavior patterns.