185191 Failure to Return for HIV Posttest Counseling Session at a Community-Based Organization in New York City

Monday, October 27, 2008

Kevin Rente, MA , Prevention Department, Harlem United Community AIDS Center, New York, NY
Sara Gillian, MPH , Prevention Department, Harlem United Community AIDS Center, New York, NY
Expedito Aponte , Prevention Department, Harlem United Community AIDS Center, New York, NY
Rashi Rohatgi, MPH , Prevention Department, Harlem United Community AIDS Center, New York, NY
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.

Learning Objectives:
To maximize the benefits of HIV rapid testing, interventions need to be designed to target those at high risk for not return for confirmatory HIV test results.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved with HIV prevention program planning, implementation, evaluation, and research for over 10 years in NYC. I am also currently in a doctoral program, with a focus on immigrant health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Contemporary Issues in HIV Testing
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