Haider Mohammad R, Brown Monique J, Karim Sabrina, Siddiqi Khairul A, Olatosi Bankole, Li Xiaoming
Department of Social and Public Health, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.
South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Int J STD AIDS. 2020 May;31(6):560-567. doi: 10.1177/0956462420913443. Epub 2020 Apr 11.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is important for controlling the epidemic in low- and middle-income countries such as the Dominican Republic (DR) – a country in the Caribbean. This study aimed to examine factors associated with HIV testing in the DR. The study used HIV test data in the 2013 DR Demographic and Health Survey. HIV data were collected from 18,614 individuals aged 15–59 years. Wealth status, HIV-related stigma, and knowledge scales were constructed using factor analysis. Survey-weighted logistic regression was used to identify correlates of HIV testing in the DR. Results show that almost two-thirds (62.4%) of the participants reported ever having an HIV test. In the multivariable analysis, older age, higher education, female gender, richest wealth status, health insurance, married, higher HIV-knowledge, and lower HIV-related stigma increased the likelihood of getting an HIV test in the DR. People living in Norte/Cibao, which had a higher HIV prevalence, had a lower chance of having an HIV test than people living in the Este/Sureste region. Although HIV testing has increased in recent times, it is not yet satisfactory in the DR. Specific interventions building HIV awareness targeting specific sub-populations and regions will increase knowledge on HIV and reduce HIV-related stigma, and may increase HIV testing.
人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)检测对于在多米尼加共和国(DR)等低收入和中等收入国家控制疫情至关重要,多米尼加共和国是加勒比地区的一个国家。本研究旨在探讨多米尼加共和国与HIV检测相关的因素。该研究使用了2013年多米尼加共和国人口与健康调查中的HIV检测数据。从18614名年龄在15至59岁的个体中收集了HIV数据。使用因子分析构建了财富状况、HIV相关耻辱感和知识量表。采用调查加权逻辑回归来确定多米尼加共和国HIV检测的相关因素。结果显示,近三分之二(62.4%)的参与者报告曾进行过HIV检测。在多变量分析中,年龄较大、受教育程度较高、女性、最富有财富状况、有医疗保险、已婚、HIV知识水平较高以及HIV相关耻辱感较低,增加了在多米尼加共和国进行HIV检测的可能性。生活在HIV患病率较高的北/锡瓦奥地区的人,与生活在东/东南地区的人相比,进行HIV检测的机会较低。尽管近年来HIV检测有所增加,但在多米尼加共和国仍不尽人意。针对特定亚人群和地区开展提高HIV意识的具体干预措施,将增加对HIV的了解并减少HIV相关耻辱感,可能会增加HIV检测。