HIV risk behaviors, HIV testing, and entry into Medical Care in Utah

Update Item Information
Title HIV risk behaviors, HIV testing, and entry into Medical Care in Utah
Publication Type dissertation
School or College School of Medicine
Department Family & Preventive Medicine
Author Lowe, Michael Thomas
Date 2012-05
Description Early diagnosis of HIV infection is beneficial for improved health outcomes on the individual level and for HIV prevention on the community level. Using data from a survey of men who have sex with men (MSM) and from the electronic HIV/AIDS reporting system (eHARS) at the Utah Department of Health, I explored high-risk behaviors and HIV testing among men MSM in Utah and entry into medical care for newly diagnosed individuals in Utah. Using a survey of 986 MSM, the associations between high-risk behaviors, HIV testing, and having a regular medical care provider were examined. Sixty percent of the MSM had a regular provider and 53% had been tested for HIV in the last year. For the three sexual risk behaviors (number of partners, type of partner, and use of condoms during anal sex) there was no association with having a medical provider. However MSM who inject drugs were less likely to have a medical provider. Having an HIV test in the last year was only associated with having a regular medical care provider if the patient disclosed his sexual orientation to the provider. Based on these findings, I recommend that interventions to improve communication between a patient and his provider be developed, and if a provider is uncomfortable asking about sexual history, then the provider should universally screen for HIV. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the time from initial HIV diagnosis to entry into medical care for 522 newly diagnosed individuals. Of these individuals, 65% iv had entered medical care within the first 90 days while for 14% there was no evidence of ever entering care. The only characteristic associated with delayed entry to care was having no risk identified (NRI) for transmission. This finding suggests that individuals with NRI may benefit from more extensive post-HIV counseling.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject MESH HIV Infections; Unsafe Sex; Health Services Accessibility; Primary Health Care; Risk Reduction Behavior; Mass Screening; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sampling Studies; Homosexuality, Male; Utah
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name Doctor of Philosophy
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of HIV Risk behaviors, HIV Testing, and Entry into Medical Care in Utah.. Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections.
Rights Management Copyright © Michael Thomas Lowe 2012
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 232,049 bytes
Source Original in Marriott Library Special Collections, RA4.5 2012.L68
ARK ark:/87278/s6wd77qp
Setname ir_etd
ID 196283
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6wd77qp
Back to Search Results