The Hispanic population in the U.S. carries a disproportionate burden of HIV. Despite the high prevalence of HIV, many Hispanics remain untested for HIV. The purpose of this study conducted in a predominantly Hispanic-serving community health center in a high HIV prevalence area was to understand patient beliefs of who should be tested for HIV in the routine HIV testing era. Survey participants were presented with nine populations of people that should be tested for HIV based on CDC HIV testing recommendations. Of the 90 participants (67.1% Hispanic) who answered the HIV testing beliefs question, only approximately 45% were aware that all adults and teenagers should be HIV tested. Only 30% correctly identified all nine populations of people that should be tested for HIV based on CDC HIV testing recommendations. Our study suggests that Hispanics are either unaware of or disagree with the latest CDC recommendations for routine HIV testing of all persons ages 13–64 in high HIV prevalence areas. Improving knowledge of the current HIV epidemiologic profile in the U.S. and the most recent routine HIV testing recommendations may improve HIV testing rates in Hispanic communities.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV in the United States: At a Glance. March2012. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/PDF/HIV_at_a_glance.pdf. 2012 October 1.
2.
MarksG, CrepazN, JanssenRS. Estimating sexual transmission of HIV from persons aware and unaware that they are infected with the virus in the USA. AIDS, 2006; 20:1447–1450.
3.
MarksG, CrepazN, SenterfittJW, JanssenRS. Meta-analysis of high-risk sexual behavior in persons aware and unaware they are infected with HIV in the United States: Implications for HIV prevention programs. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2005; 39:446–453.
4.
CohenMS, ChenYQ, McCauleyMet al.Prevention of HIV-1 infection with early antiretroviral therapy. N Engl J Med, 2011; 365:493–505.
5.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revised recommendations for HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings. MMWR, 2006; 55:1–17.
6.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV among Latinos. November2011. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/pdf/latino.pdf. 2012 October 1.
7.
U.S. Department of Commerce. U.S. Census Bureau News: Hispanic Heritage Month 2011. Sept15Oct 15http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/pdf/cb11ff-18_hispanic.pdf. 2012 October 1.
8.
Vital signs: HIV testing and diagnosis among adults—United States, 2001–2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 2010; 59:1550–1555.
9.
Kaiser Family Foundation. 2011 Survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS–Toplines. 2011. http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/8186-T.pdf. 2012 October 1.
10.
CampsmithML, RhodesPH, HallHI, GreenTA. Undiagnosed HIV prevalence among adults and adolescents in the United States at the end of 2006. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2010; 53:619–624.
11.
Late HIV testing–34 states, 1996–2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 2009; 58:661–665.
12.
Lopez-QuinteroC, ShtarkshallR, NeumarkYD. Barriers to HIV-testing among Hispanics in the United States: Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey, 2000. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 2005; 19:672–683.
13.
CunninghamCO, DoranB, DeLucaJ, DyksterhouseR, AsgaryR, SacajiuG. Routine opt-out HIV testing in an urban community health center. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 2009; 23:619–623.
14.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration. This Hispanic Population: 2010. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf. 2012 October 1.
15.
U.S. Census Bureau. Census 2005–2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pasadena City, Texas. Generated by Monisha Arya using. http://factfinder.census.org.
16.
U.S. Public Health Service recommendations for human immunodeficiency virus counseling and voluntary testing for pregnant women. MMWR Recomm Rep, 1995; 44:1–15.
17.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Surveillance Report. 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/surveillance/resources/reports/2009report/pdf/2009SurveillanceReport.pdf. 2012 October 1.
18.
MillerJE. Differences in AIDS knowledge among Spanish and English speakers by socioeconomic status and ability to speak English. J Urban Health, 2000; 77:415–424.
19.
AryaM, KallenMA, WilliamsLT, StreetRL, ViswanathK, GiordanoTP. Beliefs about who should be tested for HIV among African American individuals attending a family practice clinic. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 2012; 26:1–4.
20.
WeisKE, LieseAD, HusseyJet al.A routine HIV screening program in a South Carolina community health center in an area of low HIV prevalence. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 2009; 23:251–258.
21.
AryaM, PatuwoB, LalaniNet al.Are primary care providers offering HIV testing to patients in a predominantly Hispanic community health center? An exploratory study. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 2012; 26:256–258.
22.
LoueS, CooperM, FiedlerJ. HIV knowledge among a sample of Puerto Rican and Mexican men and women. J Immigr Health, 2003; 5:59–65.
23.
WohlAR, TejeroJ, FryeDM. Factors associated with late HIV testing for Latinos diagnosed with AIDS in Los Angeles. AIDS Care, 2009; 21:1203–1210.
24.
ViswanathK, AckersonLK. Race, ethnicity, language, social class, and health communication inequalities: A nationally-representative cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 2011; 6:e14550.
25.
ViswanathK. Public Communications and Its Role in Reducing and Eliminating Health Disparities. Examining the Health Disparities Research Plan of the National Institutes of Health. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press, 2006.
26.
Baylor College of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine. Harris County Hospital District Health Literacy: 2007 Health Literacy Survey Results.
27.
StefanMS, BlackwellJM, CrawfordKMet al.Patients' attitudes toward and factors predictive of HIV testing of academic medical clinics. Am J Med Sci, 2010; 340:2264–267.
28.
Rios-EllisB, FratesJ, D'AnnaLH, DwyerM, Lopez-ZetinaJ, UgarteC. Addressing the need for access to culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV/AIDS prevention for Latinos. J Immigr Minor Health, 2008; 10:445–460.
29.
CohenDA, WuSY, FarleyTA. Comparing the cost-effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2004; 37:1404–1414.
30.
VidanapathiranaJ, AbramsonMJ, ForbesA, FairleyC. Mass media interventions for promoting HIV testing. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2005; CD004775.
31.
Martinez-DonateAP, ZellnerJA, Fernandez-CerdenoAet al.Hombres Sanos: Exposure and response to a social marketing HIV prevention campaign targeting heterosexually identified Latino men who have sex with men and women. AIDS Educ Prev, 2009; 21:124–136.
32.
OlshefskyAM, ZiveMM, ScolariR, ZunigaM. Promoting HIV risk awareness and testing in Latinos living on the U.S.-Mexico border: the Tu No Me Conoces social marketing campaign. AIDS Educ Prev, 2007; 19:422–435.
33.
Hightow-WeidmanLB, SmithJC, ValeraE, MatthewsDD, LyonsP. Keeping them in "STYLE": Finding, linking, and retaining young HIV-positive black and Latino men who have sex with men in care. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 2011; 25:37–45.
34.
ClaymanML, ManganelloJA, ViswanathK, HesseBW, AroraNK. Providing health messages to Hispanics/Latinos: Understanding the importance of language, trust in health information sources, and media use. J Health Commun, 2010; 15:252–263.
35.
Taylor-ClarkK, KohH, ViswanathK. Perceptions of environmental health risks and communication barriers among low-SEP and racial/ethnic minority communities. J Health Care Poor Underserved, 2007; 18:165–183.
36.
SaenzR. Population Reference Bureau Population Bulletin Update: Latinos in the United States 2010. http://www.prb.org/pdf10/latinos-update2010.pdf. 2012 October 1.
37.
The White House. National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/NHAS.pdf. 2012 October 1.
38.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Implementation of Routine HIV Testing in Health Care Settings: Issues for Community Health Centers. 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/testing/resources/guidelines/pdf/routineHIVtesting.pdf. 2012 October 1.
39.
SenaAC, HammerJP, WilsonK, ZeveloffA, GambleJ. Feasibility and acceptability of door-to-door rapid HIV testing among Latino immigrants and their HIV risk factors in North Carolina. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 2010; 24:165–173.
