TORONTO — College students are reluctant to get tested for HIV because they fear being judged by others, according to a poster presented at the 16th International AIDS Conference.
In a survey of 491 students at York University, Toronto, 49 (10%) reported having been tested for HIV. Two-thirds of them reported having had unprotected sex in the previous 6 months, although many were ignorant of their HIV status, said Trevor A. Hart, Ph.D., of the department of psychology at the university. “In Canada, where access to medical care and HIV testing are readily available and cost nothing, these results are quite troubling,” he said in interview.
There are 2,500 cases of new HIV infections in Canada a year. But in a 2003 survey of Canadians over age 15, only 27% reported ever having been tested for HIV (excluding testing for the purposes of insurance, blood donation, and participation in research), according to a 2005 report by Public Health Agency Canada. Dr. Hart and his colleagues decided to see if they could find out why the students weren't being tested.
They filled out a questionnaire in which they were asked about their sexual activities in the previous 6 months; their HIV testing histories and willingness to get tested; their concerns about being judged for getting an HIV test; and social anxiety. Most of the students (80%) were female; the mean age was 18 years, with a range of 17–24 years.
The results revealed that social anxiety and fear of being judged prevented the young adults from getting tested for HIV and learning about their status. Those who were more socially anxious were more likely to be concerned about being judged about HIV testing by their siblings. They were also inhibited by friends, their family doctor, grandparents, coworkers, and God. Family doctors should ask patients if they are sexually active, and if so, ask if they know their HIV status. “It's like knowing your blood type, or when last you got a tetanus shot,” he said.
Knowing your HIV status should be 'like knowing your blood type, or when last you got a tetanus shot.' DR. HART