Journal Article

Factors associated with HIV testing and intention to test for HIV among the general population of Nonthaburi Province, Thailand

Tangmunkongvorakul, Arunrat, Ono-Kihara, Masako, Musumari, Patou Masika, Srithanaviboonchai, Kriengkrai, Techasrivichien, Teeranee, Kihara, Masahiro

2020

Overview

Research on HIV testing in Thailand has largely focused on at-risk population groups, with limited information about the prevalence of correlates of HIV testing among the Thai general population. This study addresses this gap in research by using a population-based probability sample to examine correlates of HIV testing experience and intention to test. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Nonthaburi, Thailand during October-December 2012 using tablet computers to collect self-administered questionnaires from 2138 men and women (aged 15-59 years) identified through three-stage stratified cluster sampling. Almost half of the respondents, 962 (45%), reported having been tested for HIV while an almost equal proportion, 1032 (48.3%), indicated their intention to test for HIV. Being sexually experienced, having a history of sexually transmitted infection, personally knowing someone infected with HIV, and youth were associated with both history of HIV testing and intention to test for HIV. High perceived risk of HIV, knowledge of an HIV testing location, and having been married were associated with having been tested for HIV. Having been tested for HIV and HIV/AIDS education were associated with intention to test for HIV. The most common reasons for testing were routine medical checkup and antenatal care. The major reasons for not testing were perception of having no or low risk. A substantially low proportion of the respondents reported a history of HIV testing and intention to test for HIV. Culturally appropriate programs that address HIV risk perception and provide accurate information related to HIV infection and HIV testing may be beneficial in increasing uptake of HIV testing among the general population in Thailand.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome / Adolescent / Adult / AIDS / At risk populations / Biology and Life Sciences / Computers / Cross-Sectional Studies / Data collection / Disease transmission / Education / Female / Health behavior / Health informatics / Health risks / Health sciences / HIV / HIV Infections - diagnosis / HIV tests / Households / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Infections / Intention / Interdisciplinary aspects / Male / Mass Screening - psychology / Mass Screening - statistics & numerical data / Medical care utilization / Medical tests / Medicine and Health Sciences / Middle Aged / Motivation / Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology / Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data / People and Places / Perception / Population / Population studies / Public health / Questionnaires / Risk perception / Sexually transmitted diseases / Software / STD / Supervision / Surveys / Tablet computers / Teenagers / Thailand / Variables / Young Adult