Table 2 HIV/STI testing experience among participants
Variable | Percentage | N | |
|---|---|---|---|
Most recent HIV test | Last 12 months | 45.4% | 104/229 |
>12 months | 32.8% | 75/229 | |
Never | 19.7% | 45/229 | |
Don’t remember | 2.2% | 5/229 | |
Self-reported HIV status | Living with HIV | 3.9% | 9/228 |
Negative | 84.2% | 192/228 | |
Uncertain | 10.5% | 24/228 | |
Don’t want to answer | 1.0% | 3/228 | |
Don't know where to get tested for HIV on short notice | 17.1% | 37/217 | |
Reasons for not testing among those never tested for HIV | I believe that I have not taken any risks | 51.1% | 23/45 |
I don’t know where to get tested | 22.2% | 10/45 | |
I’m living in a monogamous relationship | 20.0% | 9/45 | |
I’m afraid I will feel like a failure if I have HIV | 20.0% | 9/45 | |
I’m afraid that staff or other visitors to the clinic will recognize me | 15.6% | 7/45 | |
I’m afraid I will become ill | 15.6% | 7/45 | |
Due to the rules in the Swedish Communicable Disease Act | 15.6% | 7/45 | |
I’m afraid I will lose family and friends | 13.3% | 6/45 | |
I don’t trust confidentiality in the healthcare system | 11.1% | 5/45 | |
I don’t want to know my HIV status | 11.1% | 5/45 | |
I’m afraid the test results would have a negative influence on my sex life | 11.1% | 5/45 | |
Due to how the Swedish penal code is applied to HIV | 8.9% | 4/45 | |
I’m afraid I will lose my partner | 8.9% | 4/45 | |
It’s difficult for me to get to a clinic | 6.7% | 3/45 | |
I’m afraid the test results would affect my chances of staying in Sweden | 4.4% | 2/45 | |
I’m afraid I will lose my job | 2.2% | 1/45 | |
There is no cure for HIV, so I see no point in getting tested | 2.2% | 1/45 | |
I have been denied an HIV test by health personnel, even though I wanted to get tested | 2.2% | 1/45 | |
Most recent STI test | Last 12 months | 37.0% | 84/227 |
>12 months | 26.9% | 61/227 | |
Never | 33.0% | 75/227 | |
Don’t remember | 3.1% | 7/227 | |
Self-reported STI diagnoses last 12 months | Chlamydia | 6.3% | 9/144 |
Gonorrhoea | 4.2% | 6/144 | |
Syphilis | 0.7% | 1/144 | |
Condyloma/HPV | 0.7% | 1/144 | |
Hep A | 0.7% | 1/144 | |
Hep B | 0.7% | 1/144 | |
Mycoplasma | 0.7% | 1/144 | |
Hepatitis C | 0 | 0/144 | |
Genital herpes | 0 | 0/144 | |
Lymphogranuloma venereum | 0 | 0/144 | |
No STI | 88.9% | 128/144 | |
Don't know | 1.4% | 2/144 |