THE EFFECTS OF HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING ON RISK-RELATED PRACTICES AND HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR

In an earlier review of the behavioral effects of HIV counseling and t esting (HIV CTI), Higgins and colleagues (1991) found that the evidenc e regarding the ability of HIV CT to influence HIV-risk related practi ces was largely inconclusive. This article reviews 35 domestic and int ernational studies published since that time to reassess the scientifi c data regarding the ability of HIV CT to motivate changes in risk-rel ated practices and to promote help-seeking behavior. The studies ident ified for this review were grouped into four categories according to s ubject population: (1) men who have sex with men, (2) injection and ot her drug users, (3) women and heterosexual couples, and (4) mixed samp les recruited from sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics and othe r settings. Findings from the studies reviewed were generally mixed-ma ny provided at least some evidence supporting the ability of HIV CT to motivate risk-reducing and help-seeking behavior, but others did not. The pattern of results varied substantially across, and within, study populations and were often limited by considerable methodological wea knesses.