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HIV Testing Practices and Attitudes on Prevention Efforts in Six Diverse Chicago Communities

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Abstract

Data describing local level HIV testing practices and attitudes regarding HIV prevention are rarely available, yet would be useful for HIV policy and evaluation. A comprehensive health survey was conducted in six community areas of Chicago (n = 1,699) in 2002–2003. The HIV prevention module of this survey was used for this analysis. The proportion that ever tested for HIV ranged from 40 to 75% and 11 to 38% were tested in the past 12 months. Residents favored: needle exchange programs (59–77%), HIV information in high schools (95–100%) and elementary schools (85–94%), and condom distribution in high schools (74–93%). Attitudes were less favorable regarding pharmacies selling clean needles (37–58%) and condom distribution in elementary schools (22–66%). Adults in these areas are over three times more likely to have been tested recently than adults nationally. Residents strongly favor community based HIV prevention initiatives such as needle exchange programs, condom distribution in high schools, and HIV prevention taught in schools. These evidence-based observations may be valuable in planning HIV prevention programs and in shaping policy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Grant ID# 043026) and the Chicago Community Trust for funding this effort. We would also like to acknowledge the Sinai Health System and members of the Sinai Urban Health Institute for their support of this survey. Finally we would like to acknowledge the Survey Design Committee for including these important questions in our survey.

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  1. Sinai Urban Health Institute, 1500 S. California Room K435, Chicago, IL, 60608, USA

    Kristi L. Allgood, Abigail Silva, Ami Shah & Steven Whitman

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  1. Kristi L. Allgood
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  2. Abigail Silva
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  3. Ami Shah
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  4. Steven Whitman
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Correspondence to Kristi L. Allgood.

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Allgood, K.L., Silva, A., Shah, A. et al. HIV Testing Practices and Attitudes on Prevention Efforts in Six Diverse Chicago Communities. J Community Health 34, 514–522 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9177-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9177-1

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