Failure to Return for HIV Test Results: A Pilot Study of Three Community Testing Sites

Abstract

Background: Individuals at elevated risk of contracting HIV frequently fail to return for their test result. Because rapid HIV antibody testing is still not widely implemented, failure to return for test results under conditions of standard testing remains a problem. Methods:Direct field observation and semistructured interviews with clients (N = 16) and test counselors (N = 16) of 3 community HIV testing sites were conducted. Results: Clients faced 5 barriers to receiving their result: (1) fear, (2) busyness, (3) apathy,(4) inebriation at the time of testing, and (5) testing “on a whim.” Motivators that encouraged clients to receive their results were (1) positive counselor/client interactions, (2) client-friendly policies regarding picking up the test result, (3) clients’ psychological “need to know,” (4) incentives for picking up the result, and (5) established protocols for contacting clients who fail to return. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for interventions to improve the return rate for HIV results.