Trends in HIV Testing among Adults in Georgia: Analysis of the 2011–2015 BRFSS Data

Benjamin E. Ansa, Sashia White, Yunmi Chung and Selina A. Smith
Additional contact information
Benjamin E. Ansa: Institute of Public & Preventive Health, Augusta University, CJ-2300 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Sashia White: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Yunmi Chung: Institute of Public & Preventive Health, Augusta University, CJ-2300 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Selina A. Smith: Institute of Public & Preventive Health, Augusta University, CJ-2300 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Georgia is ranked fifth highest among states for rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis. About 4% of persons living with HIV infection in the United States reside in Georgia, and almost 19% of these people do not know their HIV status. The present study examined the trends and associated factors of HIV testing among adults in Georgia between 2011 and 2015 by analyzing data of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). A total of 31,094 persons aged ?18 years were identified who responded to the question “Have you ever been tested for HIV?” Overall, there were 11,286 (44.2%) respondents who had been tested for HIV, compared to 19,808 (55.8%) who had not. There was a slight decrease in the percentage of respondents who have ever tested for HIV, from 45.6% in 2011 to 43.7% in 2015 (APC (annual percent change) = ?0.98, not significant). Factors associated with HIV testing were being female ( p = 0.004), black ( p < 0.001), younger than 55 years ( p < 0.001), single ( p < 0.001), attaining education level above high school ( p < 0.001), and earning annual income of $50,000 or less ( p = 0.028). Overall in Georgia, there has been a slight decline in the temporal trend of HIV testing, and more than half of adults have never been tested for HIV. For reducing HIV transmission in Georgia, enhancing access and utilization of HIV testing should be a public health priority.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; testing; trends; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; socio-demographic; Georgia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/11/1126/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/11/1126/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:11:p:1126-:d:82710

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().