Long-term effects of HIV counseling and testing for women: behavioral and psychological consequences are limited at 18 months posttest. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Long-term effects of HIV counseling and testing for women: behavioral and psychological consequences are limited at 18 months posttest.

Health Psychol. 1998 Sep;17(5):395-402. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/98446892
Ickovics JR; Druley JA; Grigorenko EL; Morrill AC; Beren SE; Rodin J; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University,; New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8034, USA.; jeannette.ickovics@yale.edu

Abstract: Behavioral and psychological consequences of HIV counseling and testing (HIV C&T) for women were examined in a longitudinal, prospective study. Women who received HIV C&T at community health clinics (n = 106) and a comparison group of never-tested women (n = 54) were interviewed five times over 18 months. There was no change in risk behaviors as a consequence of testing: tested and untested women engaged in high-risk sexual behavior at baseline and 18 months later. Tested women reported more anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts about AIDS than did untested women. Although tested women were more concerned about AIDS, their potential risk factors over the study period generally were equivalent to those for untested women. HIV counseling and testing should be considered one aspect of a broader program of HIV prevention. Identification of alternative interventions must be a public health priority.
Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL Adaptation, Psychological Adult Comparative Study *Counseling Depressive Disorder/DIAGNOSIS/*THERAPY Female Human HIV Seropositivity/*DIAGNOSIS/*PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Longitudinal Studies Psychological Tests Risk Assessment Self Concept Sex Behavior Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Time FactorsKWDjournalarticleacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDprevention&controladaptation,psychologicaladultcomparativestudyKWDcounselingdepressivedisorder/diagnosis/KWDtherapyfemalehumanhivseropositivity/KWDdiagnosis/KWDpsychology/transmissionlongitudinalstudiespsychologicaltestsriskassessmentselfconceptsexbehaviorsupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'ttimefactors
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