Provider-initiated HIV testing in Puerto Rico: Data from NHBS-HET cycle 2016 (Preprint)

Abstract

According to CDC and WHO guidelines, all individuals from 13 to 64 years of age should get screened for HIV infection as part of their routine medical examinations, and individuals at high risk should get tested annually.

This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, healthcare, and sexual behavior predictors of provider-initiated HIV testing (PIHT) using data from the Puerto Rico National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (PR-NHBS) 2016 cycle; directed towards heterosexuals at increased risk of HIV infection (HET).

A total sample of 531 eligible participants were recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS), where sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare utilization, and HIV testing were assessed.

Despite 72% showed high-risk sexual behavioral practices and 65.2% of the HET sample interviewed reported a low perceived risk of HIV infection, only 19% reported not receiving an HIV test offered at a recent medical visit. Multivariate analysis shows that HET who engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.30–0.90) were less likely to receive HIV-test offers from their providers.

This study further emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to follow recommended guidelines for HIV testing in healthcare settings as a means of establishing preventive measures to further counteract the HIV epidemic in Puerto Rico, specifically among HET.