Maziero A, Saghafi L, Francioli P; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1991 Jun 16-21; 7: 429 (abstract no. M.D.4158).
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
OBJECTIVE: In the absence of legal authorization to perform unlinked anonymous screening (UAS) of HIV infection among sentinel population groups in Switzerland, we attempted to determine the feasibility of carrying out HIV screening with consent among a random sample of hospitalized patients and to acquire further information on risk factors and attitudes. METHODS: In a 1000-bed university hospital, patients within 16 and 64 years of age were chosen at random and stratified in order to overrepresent the lower age groups. They were interviewed according to a standard questionnaire on demographics, risk factors and attitudes pertaining to HIV. Diagnoses were acquired for all patients. HIV serology was performed on blood drawn for other purposes for patients agreeing to respond to the interview and accepting their blood to be tested. A single full-time nurse was in charge of all aspects of the study except the tests. RESULTS: In 4 months, only 200 patients could be reached and interviewed: 172 (86%) accepted to respond, among whom 93% agreed to have their blood tested. One person was seropositive, with a prior diagnosis of AIDS; 84% desired to know their test result; 27% had previously been tested for HIV; 59/172 had one or more risk factors: drug abuser with needle exchange =1, homo or bisexual=3, high risk partners=7, multiple partners=5, received blood=46; 26% of all patients had diagnoses potentially associated with HIV infection (CDC criteria for Sentinel Hospital HIV Surveillance). CONCLUSIONS: Although 78% of the refusals were apparently not related to HIV risk behaviors (language barrier, lack of motivation, fatigue, etc), the rate of refusal is still likely to bias HIV seroprevalence rates which are important in establishing trends and planning public health programs by using sentinel populations. The considerable time required to seek patients and obtain informed consent does not seem to be cost effective, especially when the obtained results are probably biased. In spite of its limitations, UAS appears to be more appropriate for establishing HIV seroprevalence rates in accessible populations.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Bisexuality
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV Seroprevalence
- Humans
- Mass Screening
- Risk Factors
- Sentinel Surveillance
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Switzerland
Other ID:
UI: 102183914
From Meeting Abstracts