Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Volume 98, Issue 4, Pages 728-735Publisher
AMER PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOC INC
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.092742
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- PHS HHS [R06/CCR218723] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objectives. We examined the effect of New York's HIV Reporting and Partner Notification law on HIV testing levels and on the HIV testing decisions of high-risk individuals. Methods. In-person interviews were administered to 761 high-risk individuals to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding HIV testing and reporting. Trends in HIV testing were also assessed in publicly funded HIV counseling and testing programs, Medicaid, and New York's Maternal Pediatric Newborn Prevention and Care Program. Results. High-risk individuals had limited awareness of the reporting and notification law, and few cited concern about named reporting as a reason for avoiding or delaying HIV testing. HIV testing levels, posttest counseling rates, and anonymous-to-confidential conversion rates among those who tested HIV positive were not affected by the law. Medicaid-related HIV testing rates also remained stable. HIV testing during pregnancy continued to trend upward following implementation of the law. Findings held true within demographic and risk-related subgroups. Conclusions. HIV reporting has permitted improved monitoring of New York's HIV/AlDS epidemic. This benefit has not been offset by decreases in HIV testing behavior, including willingness to test among those at high risk of acquiring HIV.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available