199804 "Know Your Status": An HIV-testing program for college students - implications for HIV testing strategies

Monday, November 9, 2009

Caitlin E. Milligan , Duke University, Durham, NC
C. Nicholas Cuneo, BS , Duke University, Weston, MA
Sarah Rutstein, BA , Duke University, Arlington, VA
Charles B. Hicks, MD , Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke Unversity, Durham, NC
Background

HIV testing is broadly recommended. HIV outbreaks reported among college students suggest this is an important target for testing.

Methods

From Oct 06 – Dec 08, the Know Your Status (KYS) program offered free, rapid OraQuick HIV testing at two NC colleges: a 4-year private university (PU) and a 2-year community college (CC). Data collected included age, sex, race, and risk behaviors/perceptions. Persons considered at risk (AR) of HIV included those reporting unprotected sex, sex with ³2 partners in the past year, men having sex with men (MSM), and injection drug users. Data were analyzed using 2-tailed 2-proportion z-tests.

Results

1016 persons were tested (PU: 705, CC: 311). Reactive tests were more common at the CC (3/311 – 1%) than the PU (1/705 – 0.14%), (p=0.17). Demographics of those tested were similar to the student bodies at the institutions, except that proportionately more African-Americans (AA) were tested. Tested populations at the CC were older (26 vs. 21, p<0.0001), had fewer males (37% vs. 47%, p=0.003), and more AA (73% vs. 16%, p<0.0001). Most tested were considered AR (PU: 59%, CC: 64%). Risk factors varied between institutions: CC students had less condom use (45% vs. 53%, p=0.04), and fewer MSM (8% vs. 24% of males, p=0.01).

Conclusions

An HIV testing program (KYS) was successfully implemented at 2 diverse colleges. Testing identified HIV cases at both institutions, but had a higher yield in the CC, perhaps because of student body composition. Assessing initial testing results in different populations may inform resource commitment decisions.

Learning Objectives:
1)Describe a novel rapid testing program for college students, Know Your Status (KYS), which was successfully implemented in two diverse institutions. 2)Compare the demographics and risk behaviors of the tested populations from each institution. 3)Identify how initial testing in different populations may assist in resource commitment decisions.

Keywords: HIV Interventions, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Project Director for the Know Your Status study implemented in North Carolina. My responsibilities and activities consist of: day-to-day management and coordination of the project at both sites, participation in HIV counseling and testing at the two sites, maintaining IRB approval, and data analysis.
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: Critical Issues in HIV Testing
See more of: HIV/AIDS