Abstract
Objective: The delay between HIV infection and patient awareness and hospital visit among HIV-infected and AIDS patients in Japan was examined.
Material & Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to HIV-infected and AIDS patients visiting 4 area hospitals specializing in AIDS treatment between November 2002 and April 2003. The questionnaire included dates of HIV infection, awareness of it and hospital visit, and HIV testing before AIDS developed. We then analyzed the data from 170 patients.
Results: The delay from HIV infection until awareness of it was 1-2 years for 21%and more than 3 years for 17% of 66 respondants. The delay from awareness of HIV infection until hospital visit was less than 1 month for 69% and more than 1 year for 2% of 163 patients responding. Before AIDS developed, 76% of the AIDS patients did not undergo HIV testing. The frequent reason for no HIV testing was “I was not afraid of HIV infection.”
Conclusion: These results suggested that the delay from HIV infection until awareness of it was long, but that the delay in visiting a hospital was short. Further researchis important.
