HBCU Students Willing To Accept Rapid HIV Testing; Those Most Likely To Consent Have A High Perceived Risk Of Infection

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 14 May 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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Research supported in part by NIDA showed that students at a historically black college/university (HBCU) are willing to receive rapid HIV testing when asked, and those most likely to consent perceive their risk of having HIV to be high. Offering routine, rapid HIV testing on college campuses may improve the acceptance of such testing among college students by providing a nontraditional setting.

Background: African-American college students have a higher prevalence of HIV infection than white college students, but they are less likely to be aware of their HIV status. This study examined the feasibility of offering rapid HIV testing on campus.

Study Design: The scientists administered a 60-item questionnaire - examining basic demographics, sexual and drug risk behaviors, barriers to testing, and HIV testing history - to 161 students. Students then were offered free, confidential, rapid HIV testing.

What They Found: In the full sample of 161 students, 84 percent perceived their risk of HIV to be low, yet 40 percent had unprotected vaginal sex and 16 percent had unprotected anal sex during the previous 3 months. Barriers to agreeing to undergo HIV testing included the effect of results on a current relationship, lack of information about local HIV test sites, and fear that the results would not remain confidential. Eighty-one students accepted the offer of rapid HIV testing, and 77 percent of students who had a high perceived risk of HIV underwent testing. In addition, 59 percent of participants who had unprotected vaginal sex and 62 percent who had unprotected anal sex during the previous 3 months accepted the offer of HIV testing.

Comments From The Authors: These findings suggest that testing on college campuses may provide a model for student access to HIV testing, particularly males who may be less likely to get tested in traditional medical settings. This first step indicates the amenability of this population to HIV intervention and prevention efforts. Providing more accessible testing sites may potentially increase the percentages of African-American students who seek testing.

What's Next: Additional research is needed to explore further implementation of rapid HIV testing on college campuses.

Publication: The study, led by Dr. Nanetta Payne of Jackson State University, was published in the December 2006 issue of the Journal of the National Medical Association.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and other topics are available in English and Spanish.

These fact sheets and further information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at www.drugabuse.gov.

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