HIV ANTIBODY TESTING AMONG THOSE AT RISK FOR INFECTION - THE NATIONALAIDS BEHAVIORAL SURVEYS

Objective.-To determine the prevalence of testing for human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV) antibody among adults with various risk factors for infection, particularly those residing in large metropolitan areas wh ere the bulk of cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) hav e occurred. Design.-A nationwide, population-based telephone survey el iciting testing, sexual, and injection drug use histories. Participant s.-A total of 2673 randomly chosen US residents and 8263 randomly chos en residents of 23 metropolitan areas containing 64% of reported cases of AIDS. Interventions.-None. Main Outcome Measure.-Testing for HIV a ntibody. Main Results.-Overall, rates of individuals ever tested were only slightly higher in the urban areas (23%) than in the nation as a whole (21%). Testing frequencies were low among all risk groups (less than 40%), except men engaging in same-sex sexual activity (60%) and m ale and female injection drug users (46% and 73%, respectively). The l ow rate of testing (35%) among the largest risk group, heterosexual me n and women engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple p artners, was particularly worrisome. Conclusions.-To encourage antibod y testing among the many at risk for infection who have not yet been t ested, promotional campaigns should explain the universal susceptibili ty to infection among those at risk, and the availability of prophylac tic medical therapies and social support services to persons who are H IV-seropositive. As there were comparable levels of risk-taking behavi or among subjects in both samples, these campaigns must be designed to reach all segments of the population.