Private business: the uptake of confidential HIV testing in remote Aboriginal communities on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands

Background and methods: Despite a concentration of risk factors for HIV tra nsmission, many remote Aboriginal communities in central Australia have a l ow uptake of HIV testing. We studied the uptake of HIV testing in six clini cs in remote Aboriginal communities following the introduction of voluntary confidential testing to assess the impact of the intervention and to deter mine if the program was reaching people most at risk of HIV infection and t ransmission. Setting: The study was conducted by Nganampa Health Council. an Aboriginal- controlled health service on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands in the far nor th-west of South Australia. Results: Since the introduction of confidential coded testing in August 199 4 the number of HIV tests provided through the remote clinics has increased from 83 tests/year to 592 tests/year. In the 12-month audit period (August 1, 1995, to July 31, 1996) 62.7% of women aged 20-24 years, 44.6% of peopl e aged 12-40 years and 24% of the total population had an HIV test. Fifty p er cent of tests were accounted for by the 15-25 year age groups and 60% of tests related to an STD consult. Discussion: This study shows that a high uptake of HIV testing in high-risk groups can be achieved in remote Aboriginal communities where a high level of confidentiality is maintained.