Association between distance to HIV testing site and uptake of HIV testing for tuberculosis patients in Cambodia.

SETTING

Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia.

OBJECTIVE

Cambodia has the highest incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Asia. Not all TB patients are tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We assessed the association between distance to HIV testing facility and HIV testing rates.

METHODS

We analyzed data on TB patients from 11 clinics to determine the proportion tested for HIV infection. We categorized each TB clinic as having a voluntary confidential counseling and testing (VCCT) center onsite, or being at <15 min, 15-30 min or >30 min driving distance to the nearest VCCT.

RESULTS

Of 1017 TB patients not previously tested for HIV, 708 (70%) were tested. Of 481 TB patients without onsite VCCT, 297 (62%) were tested, compared to 410 (77%) of 535 TB patients with onsite VCCT (RR 0.6, 95%CI 0.5-0.7). When the VCCT site was >15 min from the TB clinic, HIV testing occurred only half as frequently as when onsite VCCT was available.

CONCLUSION

TB patients treated at clinics without onsite or nearby HIV testing are less commonly tested for HIV infection. Making HIV testing available to TB patients without the necessity of traveling to a distant HIV testing site is likely to increase HIV testing rates.