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HIV Testing Behaviors and Attitudes Among Community Recruited Methamphetamine Users in a South African Township

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Abstract

Methamphetamine users in South Africa are at high risk for HIV infection and transmission, but little is known about HIV testing in this population. We examined HIV testing behaviors and attitudes in 362 methamphetamine users recruited using chain referral sampling from one peri-urban community. Many (44 %) had not been HIV tested in the past year. HIV testing was associated with positive testing attitudes, less AIDS stigma, and greater methamphetamine stigma. Among participants who reported HIV infection (8 %), less than half were linked to care. Findings highlight the need to identify barriers to HIV service uptake for methamphetamine users.

Resumen

Los usuarios de metanfetamina en Sudáfrica están en alto riesgo de infección y transmisión del VIH, pero se sabe poco acerca de pruebas del VIH en esta población. Hemos examinado los comportamientos y actitudes frente pruebas del VIH en 362 usuarios de metanfetamina reclutados utilizando muestreo por encuestado conducido de una comunidad periurbana. Muchos (44 %) no habían sido probados por el VIH en el último año. Pruebas de VIH se asoció con una actitud positiva frente a la prueba, menos estigma del SIDA, y mayor estigma de metanfetamina. Entre los participantes que reportaron infección por VIH (8 %), menos de la mitad estaban vinculados a la atención. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de identificar las barreras a la adopción de servicios de VIH para los usuarios de metanfetamina.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Grants K23-DA028660 and R03-DA033282 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27708, USA

    Christina S. Meade, Sheri L. Towe & Andrea L. Hobkirk

  2. Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Box 90519, Durham, NC, 27708, USA

    Christina S. Meade, Sheri L. Towe, Melissa H. Watt, Andrea L. Hobkirk & Stephen M. Kimani

  3. Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa

    Donald Skinner & Desiree Pieterse

  4. Alcohol & Drug Abuse Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Box 19070, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa

    Bronwyn Myers

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, South Africa

    Bronwyn Myers

Authors
  1. Christina S. Meade
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  2. Sheri L. Towe
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  3. Melissa H. Watt
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  4. Andrea L. Hobkirk
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  5. Donald Skinner
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  6. Bronwyn Myers
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  7. Stephen M. Kimani
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  8. Desiree Pieterse
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christina S. Meade.

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Meade, C.S., Towe, S.L., Watt, M.H. et al. HIV Testing Behaviors and Attitudes Among Community Recruited Methamphetamine Users in a South African Township. AIDS Behav 19, 186–191 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0795-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0795-y

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