Few Italian drug users undergo HIV testing

AIDS Behav. 2011 May;15(4):711-7. doi: 10.1007/s10461-009-9616-0.

Abstract

We estimated the proportion of drug users at treatment centres in Italy who had undergone HIV testing and the correlates of testing. Of the 1,917 drug injectors, 37.4% had been tested in the current year; of the 665 non-injectors, 28% had been tested. Among injectors, testing was associated with: being older than 35, foreign nationality, residing in central Italy, drug use for over 2 years, and having undergone both pharmacological and psychological treatment. Among non-injectors, an association was found for foreign nationality and not having been treated at other facilities. The results stress the need to facilitate access to testing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Serodiagnosis / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Drug Users / psychology
  • Drug Users / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult