Characterization of HIV infected STD clinic clients identified through routine voluntary screening: implications for future health care needs.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Characterization of HIV infected STD clinic clients identified through routine voluntary screening: implications for future health care needs.

Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9;5:89 (abstract no. M.A.P.68). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA5/00022589
Erickson B; Glasser D; Wasserheit JN; Rompalo AM; Brathwaite W; Hook EW; Baltimore City Health Dept., Baltimore, USA

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe demographic and historical characteristics of HIV infected patients identified by a routine voluntary screening program in Baltimore STD clinics. METHODS: Consenting patients are screened for HIV-1 using commercially available EIA, confirmed using a licensed Western Blot test, and are given appointments to return for test results. During January-October 1988, there were 18,907 patient visits to the STD clinics; 12,795(66%) were tested for HIV. Of patients tested, 531(4%) were HIV-infected and to date, 321 (60%) have returned for results and further evaluation. RESULTS: HIV infected patients were predominantly (approximately 2/3) young, black, single males. High risk behavior was common among infected patients: 33% reported homosexual exposure, 37% reported prior IV drug use, and 39% reported exposure to a sex partner at risk for HIV. No traditional risk factors for HIV infection were acknowledged by 18% of infected patients. STDs were also common in infected patients; 42% reported prior syphilis and 17% had been treated for syphilis in the preceding year. The majority of patients were asymptomatic (71%) or had generalized lymphadenopathy (18%) at the time of diagnosis. Many of these patients have few health care resources available; 93% were unmarried and 69% had either no health insurance (45%) or were covered solely by public assistance health plans (24%). CONCLUSION: Routine, voluntary HIV screening is a well accepted, useful means to identify HIV infected individuals in high risk settings such as STD clinics. Identification of these individuals may provide useful information for projecting future health care needs.

Keywords: Adult Ambulatory Care Facilities Baltimore Demography Female Forecasting Health Services Accessibility Homosexuality Human HIV Infections/COMPLICATIONS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL Male Mass Screening Negroid Race Risk Factors Sex Behavior Sexually Transmitted Diseases/COMPLICATIONS Substance Abuse, Intravenous Syphilis/COMPLICATIONS ABSTRACT
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