Failure to Return for HIV Posttest Counseling Session at a Community-Based Organization in New York City

Background: The effectiveness of the HIV rapid test is the ability to quickly identify and connect HIV infected persons to medical care. This benefit is challenged by clients' failure to return (FTR) for HIV + confirmatory test results. This program evaluation assesses characteristics associated with FTR for HIV post-test counseling at a community-based organization (CBO) in New York City.

Methods: The study population includes (79) persons testing HIV + during June 2006-May 2007 at a CBO offering rapid HIV testing at a non-descript storefront location and mobile testing unit. Data was drawn from a review of information gathered during the pre-test HIV encounter.

Results: Overall 57% of HIV + client identified FTR for their confirmatory test results. Clients who reported high-risk behaviors in the last 3 months were less likely to return for their confirmatory appointment (67% of those engaging in risk vs. 48% of those with no reported risk). Persons under the age of thirty were less likely to return with a 65% rate of non-return vs. 54% for those 30 and older (18-24 67%; 25-29 64%; mean age of non-return was 23 years old). Persons who FTR were more likely to be women and little differences found with regards to race/ethnicity (55% for African American, 65% for Latino/a, and 60% for Whites FTR, with exception of African Immigrant whom consistency returned for confirmatory appointment).

Recommendations: Interventions should be designed to engage those at highest risk for FTR in an effort to connect HIV infected person to medical care.