Utilization of voluntary HIV counseling and testing and its influencing factors among higk risk populations in Anshan city

Objective To explore the utilization of voluntary HIV counseling and testing(VCT) among high risk populations in Anshan,Liaoning province and to find factors influencing the utilization of VCT.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in August,2009.Totally 321 female sex workers(FSW),men who have sex with men(MSM),and migrant workers were interviewed with a structured questionnaire.Results The proportions of participants who ever sought HIV counseling and testing were 64.8% and 64.2%,respectively.The proportions of MSM who sought counseling and testing was the highest among the three populations(77.6% and 93.3%,respectively).Only 56.3% of FSW ever sought counseling and 44.1% of migrant workers took HIV testing.Multivariate analyses showed that the convenience of VCT clinic(odds ratio=2.481,95% confidence interval:1.289-4.773) and being MSM(OR=2.393,95%CI:1.101-5.202) were related to the use of counseling;the confidentiality of VCT(OR=0.233,95%CI=0.101-0.535),being male(OR=3.580,95%CI=1.102-11.627) and MSM(OR=35.322,95%CI=6.000-207.945) were related to the use of HIV testing.Conclusion Proportion of high risk population utilizing VCT is high in Anshan city.Accessibility and confidentiality of VCT influence the utilization of VCT among high risk populations.