ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
HIV testing opportunities in
Italy are frequently limited to the
hospital setting. Experiences in other countries show that offering
HIV testing in other facilities could improve
HIV testing uptake.
METHODS:
An
internet-based
survey was conducted between March 10 and April 3, 2014.
RESULTS:
A total number of 348
questionnaires were collected. Responders were 88%
male. Most represented
age groups were 25-34 (35%) and 35-44 (25%). Most of the responders identify themselves as
homosexual (81%) or
bisexual (9%). Half of responders had an
HIV test within 2 years (56%) while 18% never tested for
HIV. Among all responders, 61% had more than 2
sexual partners in the past year. Reported
condom use in the past year was always 39%, always but once 11%, sometimes 27%, never 14%. Most known places to have an
HIV test is the
hospital (95%),
STI clinic (58%) and
chemical analysis laboratory (54%); most used places are
hospital (73%),
STI clinic (30%),
laboratory (22%) while 5 responders reported having had a
self-test at home. Preferred places where to have an
HIV test is
self-testing at home (53%),
hospital (36%),
pharmacy (32%) and headquarter of an
organization (31%). Most known testing
method is draw
blood from
vein (97%), which is also most used (80%) but the least preferred (31%) while
saliva (65%) and
finger prick (56%) are the preferred choices. Most responders know that
physicians (84%) and
nurses (77%) are those
who perform
HIV tests and most of them had an
HIV test with them (60% and 65% respectively).
Physicians are the preferred
operators (54%) followed by
self-testing (46%),
nurses (46%) and peer-
volunteers (39%). The ideal
HIV test should be reliable (86%), with no medical
prescription (75%), free (63%), rapid (55%), with no personal information collected (45%), with the opportunity to speak with a peer-counsellor (36%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Changing
HIV testing policies in
Italy is urgently needed in order to
grant a better access to the service waiting for the results and bureaucratic obligations represent the major barriers to be removed. Home-testing and
community-based testing seem to be among the best ways to offer new opportunities though they may require a change in the legal, social and cultural context to be implemented and home testing
will not allow any kind of support for newly diagnosed people.
