Ranjana Banerjea¹, Usha Sambamoorthi, PhD², and Stephen Crystal, PhD². (1) School of Social Work, Rutgers University, 536 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1167, (732)635-0338, ranjaban@rci.rutgers.edu, (2) Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, 30 College Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Background: Older individuals comprise an estimated 17% of persons living with AIDS. This proportion may even be an underestimate as there is strong reason to believe that HIV infection is underreported among the group over age 50 due to the lack of risk recognition. Method: This study examines age differences in HIV testing among individuals at risk for HIV, using data from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey. The sample included 1038 respondents who were at high risk for HIV infection based on their sexual or drug-use behavior, hemophilia with use of blood clotting factors or self-perceived high HIV risk. Walsh and McPhee’s Systems Model of Clinical Preventive Care and Andersen’s Behavioral Model were adapted and utilized in a bivariate and logistic regression analysis. The conceptual framework for the study assumes that the benefits of testing vary with the degree of risk to which the individual is exposed. Results: The analysis showed that controlling for other characteristics, persons at high risk for HIV aged 50 and older were less likely to be tested than their younger counterparts (aged 18-49). Testing was more frequent in the settings of shelters, jails and substance abuse rehabilitation clinics but differential patterns of testing remained between the two age groups for other characteristics. Conclusion: Results suggest a high degree of inequity in access to testing by age in high risk individuals. Older individuals may have been less likely to be identified as being at high risk, despite their risky behavior.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session the participants will recognize the importance of testing for HIV infection rates among high risk older individuals and identify some of the reasons why they are frequently overlooked and have significantly lower rates of testing than the high risk younger group.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.