LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING FOR WOMEN - BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES ARE LIMITED AT 18 MONTHS POSTTEST

Behavioral and psychological consequences of HIV counseling and testin g (HIV C&T) for women were examined in a longitudinal, prospective stu dy. Women who received HN C&T at community health clinics (n = 106) an d a comparison group of never-tested women (n = 54) were interviewed f ive times over 18 months. There was no change in risk behaviors as a c onsequence of testing: tested and untested women engaged in high-risk sexual behavior at baseline and 18 months later. Tested women reported more anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts about AIDS than did untested women. Although tested women were more concerned about AIDS, their potential risk factors over the study period generally were equi valent to those for untested women. HIV counseling and testing should be considered one aspect of a broader program of HIV prevention. Ident ification of alternative interventions must be a public health priorit y.