Spielberg F, McKnight T, McGugin A, Wood RW; National HIV Prevention Conference (2003 : Atlanta, Ga.).

Abstr Book 2003 Natl HIV Prev Conf July 27 30 2003 Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel Atlanta Ga Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 Atlanta Ga. 2003; abstract no. W0-D0403.

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: People of Color continue to be disproportionately infected with HIV and diagnosed later in the course of disease. In an effort to reach people of color who are unaware of their HIV status the CDC funded several Community Based Organizations (CBO) around the country to develop HIV counseling and testing programs to reach people of color. Our study compares the people reached through one year of testing between the People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) community based HIV counseling and testing program (Seattle, WA) and the Public Health Seattle & King County (HD) HIV testing program.METHODS: This study compiled routinely collected data on clients testing between 4/01 and 4/02 for the CBO (n=610) and the HD (n=1838). Comparisons were made between the CBO and HD for total populations, by risk group, and by risk group for people of color. Chi square analysis was performed to assess significant differences between characteristics in each group.RESULTS: Analysis of the total populations tested revealed that the CBO (vs. the HD) was more likely to reach people of color (84% vs. 29%, p<0.001), people who have never tested before (40% vs. 22%, p<0.001), people less than 20years old (19% vs. 3%, p<0.001, people with a high school education or less (65% vs. 19%, p<0.001), substance users (91% vs. 24%, p<0.001), binge drinkers (36% vs. 31%, p<0.05), people who had unprotected anal/vaginal sex since their last test (72% vs. 54%, p<0.001), and people who had unsafe sex while high on drugs or alcohol (39% vs. 18%, p<0.001). Subgroup analysis among MSM of color tested with the CBO (n=100) vs. the HD (n=239) revealed that differences between the groups remained significant. HIV prevalence among MSM of color was not significantly different between the CBO (6%) and the HD (8%) testing populations.CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the CBO testing program reaches populations of color that are different than those tested through the HD. CBO clients are less likely to have tested previously, less educated, more likely to use substances and binge drink, and more likely to have unsafe sex while using drugs or alcohol. The findings in this study suggest that wide spread implementation of CBO testing, counseling and referral will increase HIV detection among people of color and bring important HIV prevention services to these communities.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• Counseling
• Female
• HIV
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Mass Screening
• Research Design

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0022691

UI: 102262315

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