Los Angeles County administers over 70,000 publicly-funded HIV tests annually in a variety of counseling and testing sites across the County. The number of lab tests increased 2.1% from 1995 to 1998 while HIV-positive tests declined 6.1%. In 1998, positive tests located in five urban zip codes (0.3% of County land mass) accounted for 25.1% of positive tests. Testing sites accounting for the greatest seropositivity were Court/Detention (6.6%) and Tuberculosis clinics (2.2%). Overall, seropositivity for men (2.3%) was higher than for women (0.6%). African-American clients had 30.8% of positive tests yet comprised only 22.8% of total tests. Among males, the greatest seropositivity was found for American Indians (5.4% based on only 315 tests), African-Americans (3.0%), Latinos (2.4%) and whites (1.8%). Men who have sex with men (MSMs) account for approximately two-thirds (64.4%) of all positive tests and had a seropositivity seven times higher than for non-MSM men (6.0% versus 0.8%). African-American MSMs had the highest seropositivity at 12.6% (n=1,400 tests). For women, African-American seropositivity (1.1%) was higher than for whites (0.4%) or Latinas (0.4%). Among females, the most frequent risk categories were: Partner Risk (33.1%), Heterosexual IDU (20.3%), and STD Diagnosis (16.3%). Overall proportion of individuals returning for their lab test results was 75.4% with significantly lower rates for: African-Americans (63.2%); STD Diagnosis (58.1%) and Prenatal/Family Planning (62.0%) clinics. These findings provide critical information needed for effective planning of future counseling and testing services in a large, culturally diverse County.
Learning Objectives: 1. During this session, the presenters will describe the HIV counseling and testing process and provide critical information needed for effective planning of future counseling and testing services in large, culturally diverse jurisdictions. 2. Presenters will also elaborate on the lessons learned administering public HIV services in Los Angeles County
Keywords: HIV/AIDS,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.