A comparison of HIV testing protocols with Latino day laborers

ABSTRACT

This project compared two HIV testing protocols, an HIV test alone or as part of a bundled package with other tests, to examine which resulted in a higher test uptake in a sample of 725 Latino day laborers. The testing uptake was 29.1% for the HIV-only protocol and 13.6% for the HIV-bundled protocol (p < 0.001). Thus higher levels of testing among day laborers may occur when the HIV test is offered alone. However, no HIV-positive tests were found and few risk behaviors reported. This would argue against the need for routine HIV screening with this population as a whole. HIV testing among Latino day laborers should target those involved in actual high HIV risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex with men or injection drug use.

KEYWORDS:

• bundling
• day laborers
• HIV testing
• immigrants
• Latinos

Acknowledgments

We also express our appreciation to the staff of Bienestar Human Services, Inc., who assisted in the execution of this study: Ivan Sanchez, Albert Martinez, Victor Martinez and Joe Montes. Finally, appreciation is also extended to the day laborers who gave of their time to participate in this study.