The Impact of HIV Knowledge and Attitudes on HIV Testing Acceptance among Patients in an Emergency Department in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

• DOI: 10.21203/rs.2.12584/v1
• Publication Date: 2019-08-28T04:15:50Z
• Authors: Sofia Ryan; Elizabeth Hahn; Aditi Rao; George Mwinnyaa; John Black; Roshen Maharaj; Nomzamo Mvandaba; Yandisa Nyanisa; Thomas C. Quinn; Bhakti Hansoti
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Social Stigma; 610; HIV Infections; 613; Emergency departments; HIV knowledge; South Africa; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Surveys and Questionnaires; Testing acceptance; Humans; Mass Screening; HIV attitudes; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; HIV testing; 3. Good health; Female; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Emergency Service, Hospital; 0305 other medical science; Research Article

Abstract Background: Transmission of HIV in South Africa continues to be high due to a large proportion of individuals living with undiagnosed HIV. Uptake of HIV testing is influenced by a multitude of factors including the patient’s knowledge and beliefs about HIV. Methods: This study sought to quantify the impact of knowledge and attitudes on HIV testing acceptance in an emergency department by co-administering a validated HIV knowledge and attitudes survey to patients who were subsequently offered HIV testing. Results: During the study period 223 patients were interviewed and offered HIV testing. Individuals reporting more negative overall attitudes (p = 0.006), higher levels of stigma to HIV testing (p<0.001), and individuals who believed their test was confidential (p<0.001) were more likely to accept an HIV test. Conclusions: Interventions focused on improving patient perceptions around testing confidentiality will likely have the greatest impact on testing acceptance in the emergency department.