Norman L R
AIDS Research Program, Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
HIV Med. 2006 May;7(4):231-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2006.00368.x.
Prevention programmes often promote HIV testing as one possible strategy for combating the spread of the disease. The objectives of the present study were to examine levels of HIV testing practices in a large sample of Jamaicans and the relationships among HIV testing, sociodemographic variables and HIV-related behaviours.
A total of 1800 persons, aged 15-49 years, were surveyed between May and August 2004 using a household-level, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included HIV-related knowledge, attitudinal and behavioural items. For the present analyses, data from 1558 sexually experienced persons were examined.
Approximately 38% of the sexually experienced sample reported a history of HIV testing. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that adults, females, persons with post-high school education and married persons were more likely to report previous HIV testing. Also, those who had attended an HIV/AIDS education workshop or discussion and those who reported knowing persons living with HIV/AIDS were more likely to report previous testing. However, HIV testing was not associated with condom use or with the number of sexual partners.
The lack of significant findings establishing a relationship between testing and risky sexual behaviours should not negate the importance of HIV testing. Being informed regarding personal HIV serostatus is one of the first steps in self-protection. Effective messages and programmes promoting HIV testing need to be developed and implemented in Jamaica, in order to educate people about how to assess their level of risk with respect to contracting HIV infection.
预防项目常常将艾滋病毒检测作为抗击该疾病传播的一种可能策略加以推广。本研究的目的是调查大量牙买加人样本中的艾滋病毒检测实践水平，以及艾滋病毒检测、社会人口统计学变量和与艾滋病毒相关行为之间的关系。
2004年5月至8月期间，使用家庭层面的、由访谈员实施的问卷对1800名年龄在15至49岁之间的人进行了调查。问卷包括与艾滋病毒相关的知识、态度和行为项目。对于本次分析，研究了1558名有性经历者的数据。
约38%的有性经历样本报告有艾滋病毒检测史。分层逻辑回归分析显示，成年人、女性、受过高中以上教育的人和已婚者更有可能报告曾进行过艾滋病毒检测。此外，那些参加过艾滋病毒/艾滋病教育研讨会或讨论的人以及那些报告认识艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者的人更有可能报告曾进行过检测。然而，艾滋病毒检测与使用避孕套或性伴侣数量无关。
缺乏关于检测与危险性行为之间关系的显著研究结果不应否定艾滋病毒检测的重要性。了解个人的艾滋病毒血清状况是自我保护的首要步骤之一。牙买加需要制定并实施有效的宣传信息和项目来推广艾滋病毒检测，以便教育人们如何评估自己感染艾滋病毒的风险水平。
