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Evidence summaries

The Effects of HIV Counseling and Testing (HIV CT) on Risk-Related Practices and Help-Seeking Behaviour

HIV counseling and testing appears to induce change in risk-related behaviour. Level of evidence: "B"

A systematic review 1 including 35 studies with a total of 22 170 subjects was abstracted in DARE. In homosexual men (n=2984) and in intravenous drug users (n=7161) HIV counseling and testing resulted in substantial change in risk-related behaviour. In women and heterosexual couples 4 studies examining the impact of HIV CT on pregnancy rates, two found knowledge of serostatus to be unrelated to pregnancy, and two found a decreased pregnancy rate in women who knew they were HIV-positive.

    References

    • Wolitski RJ, MacGowan RJ, Higgins DL, Jorgensen CM. The effects of HIV counseling and testing on risk-related practices and help-seeking behavior. AIDS Educ Prev 1997 Jun;9(3 Suppl):52-67. [PubMed][DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords