142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Online Program

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

308254
Who Uses Rapid HIV Tests? Characteristics from a Nationally Representative Sample

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Ray Serrano, MPH, PHD(c) , Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Meredith Philyaw, BA, MS(c) , Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Daud Lodin, MPH , Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Background:  CDC estimates that 1 in 5 people living with HIV are unaware of their status.  Rapid HIV tests can increase access to screening for high-risk populations, but little is known about who actually uses rapid tests nationwide. 

Methods:  This study includes a sample of 19,528 HIV-tested participants from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) dataset.  We used weighted logistic regression models to explore socio-demographic (e.g., SES, race/ethnicity), access to care (e.g., healthcare coverage, usual provider) and behavioral (e.g., HIV high-risk) characteristics of individuals whose last test was a rapid HIV test. 

Results:  21.7% of respondents tested for HIV used rapid tests during their last test. They were significantly more likely to be 18-24 years old (OR=2.06, 95%CI: 1.83-2.31, ref 35-44 years), self-identify as African-American (OR=2.27, 95%CI: 2.05-2.40, ref white, non-Hispanic,) or Hispanic (OR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.56-2.08, ref white, non-Hispanic), have no healthcare coverage (OR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.60-1.88), have a household income between $10,000-15,000k (OR=2.54, 95%CI: 2.02-3.20, ref >$75,000), and have no high school diploma/GED (OR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.85-26, ref attempted college/university) . Rapid test users were more likely to turn to counseling and testing (CT) sites for HIV testing (OR=5.17, 95%CI: 4.40-6.06, ref private healthcare provider).

Conclusions:  Rapid testing for HIV is being used by racial/ethnic minorities and individuals of low socioeconomic status who are at-risk for HIV and face barriers to health services.  Scaling up rapid testing at CT sites can provide a convenient and quick way to screen for HIV and enhance efforts for early detection.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain the significance of rapid testing in increasing the number of individuals who know their status and can be linked to appropriate HIV care, treatment, and support. Discuss key socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of individuals who have undergone HIV testing using rapid tests.

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, Utilization

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My doctoral studies largely focus on examining health system reforms, particularly those related to localized HIV testing, care, and treatment. My work experience, spanning 6 years, has largely been with international efforts targeting HIV in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia. My contributions to this paper have been focused on conceptualizing the study and examining findings in light of existing literature.
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.

Back to: 5019.0: Behavioral Science/Health Education Student Posters #2