Missed opportunities for earlier HIV-testing in patients with HIV infection referred to a tertiary hospital, a cross-sectional study
- Author:
Kwee Choy Koh
;
Mahfuja Islam
;
Weng Kien Chan
;
Wei Yi Lee
;
Yong Wai Ho
;
Syed Abdul Hannan Alsagoff
;
Rini Azura Yusof
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Missed opportunities;
HIV testing;
risk assessment;
primary care
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2017;72(4):209-214
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: In Malaysia, the prevalence of missed
opportunities for HIV-testing is unknown. Missed
opportunities have been linked to late diagnosis of HIV and
poorer outcome for patients. We describe missed
opportunities for earlier HIV-testing in newly-HIV-diagnosed
patients.
Methods: Cross sectional study. Adult patients diagnosed
with HIV infection and had at least one medical encounter in
a primary healthcare setting during three years prior to
diagnosis were included. We collected data on sociodemographic
characteristics, patient characteristics at
diagnosis, HIV-related conditions and whether they were
subjected to risk assessment and offered HIV testing during
the three years prior to HIV diagnosis.
Results: 65 newly HIV-diagnosed patients (male: 92.3%;
Malays: 52.4%; single: 66.7%; heterosexual: 41%;
homosexual 24.6%; CD4 <350 at diagnosis: 63%). 93.8%
were unaware of their HIV status at diagnosis. Up to 56.9%
had presented with HIV-related conditions at a primary
healthcare facility during the three years prior to diagnosis.
Slightly more than half were had risk assessment done and
only 33.8% were offered HIV-testing.
Conclusions: Missed opportunities for HIV-testing was
unacceptably high with insufficient risk assessment and
offering of HIV-testing. Risk assessment must be promoted
and primary care physicians must be trained to recognize
HIV-related conditions that will prompt them to offer HIVtesting.
