1 research outputs found
High prevalence of self-reported undiagnosed HIV despite high coverage of HIV testing : a cross-sectional population based sero-survey in South Africa
CITATION: Kranzer, K. et al. 2011. High prevalence of self-reported undiagnosed HIV despite high coverage of HIV testing : a cross-sectional population based sero-survey in South Africa. PLoS ONE, 6(9): e25244, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025244.The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosoneObjectives
To measure HIV prevalence and uptake of HIV counseling and testing (HCT) in a peri-urban South African community. To assess predictors for previous HIV testing and the association between the yield of previously undiagnosed HIV and time of last negative HIV test
Methods
A random sample of 10% of the adult population (β₯15 years) were invited to attend a mobile HCT service. Study procedures included a questionnaire, HIV testing and CD4 counts. Predictors for previous testing were determined using a binominal model.
Results
1,144 (88.0%) of 1,300 randomly selected individuals participated in the study. 71.0% (68.3β73.6) had previously had an HIV test and 37.5% (34.6β40.5) had tested in the past 12 months. Men, migrants and older (>35 years) and younger (<20 years) individuals were less likely to have had a previous HIV test. Overall HIV prevalence was 22.7 (20.3β25.3) with peak prevalence of 41.8% (35.8β47.8) in women aged 25.1β35 years and 37.5% (26.7β48.3) in men aged 25.1β45 years. Prevalence of previously undiagnosed HIV was 10.3% (8.5β12.1) overall and 4.5% (2.3β6.6), 8.0% (CI 3.9β12.0) and 20.0% (13.2β26.8) in individuals who had their most recent HIV test within 1, 1β2 and more than 2 years prior to the survey.
Conclusion
The high burden of undiagnosed HIV in individuals who had recently tested underscores the importance of frequent repeat testing at least annually. The high prevalence of previously undiagnosed HIV in individuals reporting a negative test in the 12 months preceding the survey indicates a very high incidence. Innovative prevention strategies are needed.http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025244Publisher's versio