Using peer recruitment and OraSure to increase HIV testing

Am J Public Health. 2004 Jan;94(1):29-31. doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.1.29.

Abstract

We describe a community-based pilot study to boost HIV testing in a minority community through social network recruitment and a noninvasive HIV testing methodology. Over an 11-month period, the number of test takers at the intervention site increased by 71.7%, and the proportions of test takers with risk factors similar to those of peer recruiters (heterosexual sex and multiple partners) increased by 24.2% and 19.5%, respectively. At a comparison site, testing remained stable, while the proportion of test takers reporting heterosexual sex and multiple partners decreased by 42.5% and 21.8%, respectively. The use of a social network recruitment strategy in combination with an oral HIV test shows promise in increasing testing and in targeting populations.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude to Health / ethnology*
  • Community Health Centers
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / ethnology
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Health Education
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Massachusetts
  • Minority Groups*
  • Motivation
  • Mouth Mucosa / virology*
  • Peer Group*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Risk-Taking
  • Social Support*
  • Specimen Handling
  • Women / education