[Client anxiety from awareness of personal HIV risk and relation to taking HIV test at public health centers in Japan].

Clients taking HIV antibody tests at public health centers (PHCs) in Japan were surveyed in autumn of 1995 centered on 17 PHCs selected by a snow-ball sampling method in domestic PHCs. The anonymous self-administered questionnaires were given out by PHC's medical doctors or public health nurses after receiving informed consent of this survey's objectives following HIV post-test counseling. A total of 250 questionnaires were collected (71.8%). Valid questionnaires were 233 (67.0%) and 62.7% (146 people) were male, 37.3% (87 people) were female, with differences in mean age by sex being significant (p < .001). The greatest motivating factor for getting HIV testing was concerning secondary infection to partners and extreme anxiety relating to one's own possible infection. This motivating factor was greater than having experienced previous HIV infectious high-risk behavior (i.e. condomless sex). Repeat (more than twice) visitors totaled 49 (21.0%), with 75% having experienced HIV infectious high-risk behavior since the last HIV test. "Having being advised or having received from partners or friends" affected decision making to get tested. About half of subjects vacillated before coming to the PHC for taking anonymous the HIV antibody test. Through multiple-logistic regression analysis factors causing vacillation were: greater self-awareness of possibility of having HIV infection and the fact that HIV infected people must retire from their work (or studies) despite their current health condition being fine. While HIV medical/clinical treatment progress continues, the stigma toward HIV/AIDS and the resulting discrimination is not changing in terms of the general citizen's knowledge and attitudes. This result will likely curtail HIV antibody testing behavior.