Characteristics of clients attending confidential versus anonymous testingclinics for human immunodeficiency virus

Objectives: To compare risk behavior between subjects attending anonymous a nd confidential clinics for human immunodeficiency virus testing, and to as sess whether anonymous testing results in a higher accrual of persons at ri sk for HIV. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire that addressed sociodemographic and ris k behavior aspects was administered to 140 subjects attending an anonymous clinic and 124 attending a confidential clinic in the Tel Aviv area. A logi stic regression analysis was used to compare the effects of various behavio ral factors on the probability of attending each clinic. Results: Chronological age, age at first sexual intercourse, and the percen t of married subjects were similar in both clinics. However, there was a si gnificant difference in the sex ratio and in educational attainment (85.0% versus 55.6% were males, P <0.001; and 58% vs. 34% had over 12 years of edu cation, P <0.001, in the anonymous and confidential clinics respectively). There was a striking difference between the two clinics with regard to sexu al experience characteristics: of the subjects reaching the anonymous clini c 21.4% were homosexual and 10.0% bisexual versus a total of 2.6% in the co nfidential clinic. A logistic regression analysis, comparing the effects of various behavioral factors on the probability oi attending each clinic, sh owed that gender (male), high education, homosexuality, number of partners and sexual encounter with sex workers were the strongest predictors for sel ecting anonymous HIV examination. Conclusions: Individuals at high risk for HIV, such as homosexuals and bise xuals, prefer to attend an anonymous clinic.