Factors associated with frequent and infrequent HIV testing

Drug user treatment clients with 5 or more HIV tests (frequent testees N = 43) and 0-2 HIV tests (infrequent testees-N = 56) were compared on demograp hic characteristics, risk behaviors, perceived risk of HIV infection to sel f, involvement with family members, and psychological functioning. Extreme groups of HIV testees did not differ on any variables other than an index o f perceived vulnerability to HIV infection (e.g., "You think that you reall y could get AIDS"). That measure of felt vulnerability was not correlated s ignificantly with needle or sexual risk behaviors, family involvement, psyc hological functioning or other measures of perceived risk. It was reasoned that, in a community in which both dangers and protective behaviors are wid ely understood, frequent testees experience a generalized and heightened co ncern unrelated to specific behaviors or characteristics.