Who returns for HIV screening test results?

Abstract

Patient awareness of their HIV status is a major component of HIV prevention strategies. The failure to return for HIV screening results appears to be a consistent problem in many sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics. This study reviews the proportion of patients of Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC) who returned for HIV results and compares their characteristics and risk behaviours with those who did not re-attend. Between 1995 and 2004, 79.7% of 8715 patients returned for results within one month. Return was associated with being male, men who have sex with men (MSM), more than five sex partners or overseas sex partners in the past 12 months and being overseas-born. Predictors of non-return included injection drug use (IDU) and commercial sex work (CSW). Different factors were associated with return for men and women. Overall return rates at SSHC were high.