HIV testing behaviors and attitudes among community recruited methamphetamine users in a South African township.

Meade, Christina S; Towe, Sheri L; Watt, Melissa H; Hobkirk, Andrea L; Skinner, Donald; Myers, Bronwyn; Kimani, Stephen M; Pieterse, Desiree

Item

HIV testing behaviors and attitudes among community recruited methamphetamine users in a South African township.

Meade, Christina S
;
Towe, Sheri L
;
Watt, Melissa H
;
Hobkirk, Andrea L
;
Skinner, Donald
;
Myers, Bronwyn
;
Kimani, Stephen M
;
Pieterse, Desiree

Abstract

Methamphetamine users in South Africa are at high risk for HIV infection and transmission, but little is known about HIV testing in this population. We examined HIV testing behaviors and attitudes in 362 methamphetamine users recruited using chain referral sampling from one peri-urban community. Many (44 %) had not been HIV tested in the past year. HIV testing was associated with positive testing attitudes, less AIDS stigma, and greater methamphetamine stigma. Among participants who reported HIV infection (8 %), less than half were linked to care. Findings highlight the need to identify barriers to HIV service uptake for methamphetamine users.