Long-term follow-up of individuals under community supervision who refused rapid HIV testing

Many criminal justice-involved persons on probation or parole do not receive HIV testing despite being at an increased risk for infection and transmission. Between April, 2011 and May, 2012 in Baltimore, MD and Providence, RI, a two-group randomized controlled trial was conducted in order to examine the uptake of on-site rapid HIV testing compared to off-site referral-based HIV testing at a community clinic. Adults under community supervision were recruited to complete baseline assessments and then offered optional, free rapid-HIV testing. Of the 1263 participants who completed baseline measures, 566 declined HIV testing prior to randomization to the on-site testing at the Probation/Parole office or referral to off-site testing in a community health clinic. Follow-up data from 50 individuals who declined HIV testing were collected from September 2016-June 2017 and are examined in the present study. We describe the long-term outcomes of these 50 individuals in terms of HIV testing, HIV status, and frequencies of drug and sex risk behaviors.

Automated summary

The study aimed to compare the uptake of on-site rapid HIV testing and off-site referral-based HIV testing among criminal justice-involved persons on probation or parole. Long-term outcomes of individuals who declined HIV testing were examined, including HIV status and risk behaviors.