HIV Testing Behaviors and Attitudes Among Community Recruited Methamphetamine Users in a South African Township

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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)186-191
Number of pages6
JournalAIDS and Behavior
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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