Does HIV VCT reduce risk behaviors? An observational study in Guatemala City.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the impact of HIV voluntary counseling and testing on self-reported behavioral risks three months after HIV testing.

DESIGN

Cohort study comparing self-reported risk behaviors prior to and three months after HIV testing.

SETTING

Clinica Familiar Luis Angel Garcia, an HIV specialty clinic located in a Guatemalan National Hospital.

SUBJECTS, PARTICIPANTS: 144 people undergoing HIV testing were enrolled. 44 were HIV positive. 41 HIV positive and 49 HIV negative subjects returned for follow-up interviews.

INTERVENTION

All subjects were tested and received voluntary counseling regarding HIV infection, transmission, prevention, and interpretation of HIV test results.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The primary study outcome measure was change in self-reported risk behaviors three months after voluntary counseling and testing.

RESULTS

Men were more likely than women to report a history of sexually transmitted diseases, more than 2 sexual partners, using alcohol with sex, and receiving money for sex; they were less likely to have a regular partner. 26% of men reported non-heterosexual orientation; no woman did. Alcohol was the primary drug of abuse in both men and women. At three month follow-up HIV positive subjects showed decreases in the average number of sexual partners, use of alcohol with sex, and episodes of unprotected sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Voluntary counseling and testing resulted in changes in some self-reported risk behaviors, but only among HIV positive subjects. On nearly all measures men report riskier behavior than women. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in this population and is often used with sex.