Knowledge and Concern about STIs/HIV and Sociodemographic Variables Associated with Getting Tested for HIV Among the General Population in Spain

ABSTRACT

HIV testing is important in terms of prevention and treatment. However, HIV testing rates in the Spanish general population remains low. Therefore, HIV testing promotion constitutes a key issue. A high level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS is associated with having been tested for HIV. The general aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of people who had ever been tested for HIV in Spain. The sample consisted of 1,106 participants from the general population — 60.0% females and 40.0% males — aged between 17 and 55 years old. The assessment instruments were a questionnaire on sociodemographic data and HIV testing, a scale of knowledge about STIs and HIV/AIDS, and a scale of concern about STIs/HIV. Results showed that greater knowledge about STIs and HIV was associated with a greater likelihood of being tested for HIV (OR = .77; 95.0% CI = .73–.82; p < .05). In addition, higher concern about HIV/AIDS decreased the likelihood of not having been tested for HIV (OR = .87; 95.0% CI = .83–.92; p < .05). In fact, the higher participants concern about STIs was, the lower their likelihood of not having been tested for HIV was (OR = .87; 95.0% CI = .83–.91; p < .05). It is necessary to promote HIV testing in the general population as well as to consider their socio-demographic and psychological characteristics.

KEYWORDS:

• Concern
• general population
• HIV testing
• knowledge of STIs/HIV
• sociodemographic

Author Notes

Inmaculada Teva, Psy.D., is an associate professor at the University of Granada (Spain). Her research interests encompass the analysis of sexual behavior in adolescents and psychosocial factors associated with sexual risk behaviors in this population and adults to prevent STI/HIV infections.Ludgleydson Fernandes de Araújo, Psy.D., is an associate professor at the Federal University of Piauí (Brasil). His research interests focus on social psychology and the psychology of aging.María de la Paz Bermúdez, Psy.D., is a professor at the University of Granada (Spain) Her research interests focus on HIV/AIDS prevention in adolescent population and gender violence in the context of couples.