Abstract
Objective: To assess the perception of HIV infection and the need for rapid HIV testing in the general population of Hokkaido.
Subjects and Methods: The subjects were recruited from persons registered with the Hokkaido Newspaper Information Institute using stratified random sampling to obtain a representative sample of the general population of Hokkaido Prefecture. A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among the subjects in December 2004.
Results: Of the 1, 700 subjects, 1, 451 replied to the survey (response rate = 85.4%). The results showed that many of the subjects were well familiar with the epidemic of or preventive methods for HIV infection but not with the HIV testing per se. Seventy percent of the subjects preferred the rapid test to the conventional testing method. Men and young women preferred HIV testing in health centers on weekends at daytime or on weekdays at nighttime. Seven percent of the subjects were worried about HIV status, while only 3% thought about seeking HIV testing in the past.
Conclusions: The proportion of persons who actually went to HIV testing was small among those who were anxious about their own HIV status. Thus, HIV testing strategies need to be revised to be more convenient for those with anxiety over HIV infection and many others who want to know their HIV serostatus. The strategy should take into account, among others, the age and occupation of potential users, anonymous and confidential counseling, and convenience in time and place as well as provision of information on HIV testing and counseling.
