Factors Associated with the Uptake of HIV Testing in Canada: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Study

ABSTRACT

In this study, we explore the factors associated with the uptake of HIV testing at the national level in Canada. Using the 2015–16 Canadian Community Health Survey and applying logistic regression analysis, we examine the associations between HIV testing and factors identified by the Andersen’s behavioral model of healthcare utilization. We find that a range of predisposing, enabling, and need factors are significantly associated with HIV testing. For example, compared to the oldest respondents (i.e. 55–64), their younger counterparts (i.e. 45–54, 35–44, and 25–34) are more likely to have been tested for HIV. Compared to those in Atlantic Canada, respondents in Quebec (OR = 1.96, p < .001), Ontario (OR = 1.44, p < .001), Prairies (OR = 1.37, p < .001), British Columbia (OR = 1.99, p < .001), and the Territories (OR = 2.22, p < .001) are all more likely to have been tested for HIV. Based on these findings, we provide several important suggestions for policymakers and future research.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• testing
• Andersen behavioral model
• Canadian Community Health Survey
• Canada

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Canadian Community Health Survey and the Government of Canada for providing the data for the analysis in this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.