Facts on HIV testing announced (12804)

To mark National HIV Testing Day on June 27, the Kaiser Family Foundation this week released new national survey data on HIV testing that shows 48% of all U.S. adults have been tested at least once for HIV antibodies, and one-fifth of U.S. adults have been tested within the past year. Among younger adults, 55% have been tested. Nonelderly African-Americans were the most likely to be tested (71%), followed by Latinos (54%), and whites (51%). About 38% of Americans report having talked to their doctors about HIV and AIDS. The survey also showed that AIDS stigma is still strong throughout the country: 31% of those surveyed said they would be very or somewhat concerned that people would think less of them if they found out that they had been tested for HIV. The findings are part of Kaiser's national "Survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS," conducted this spring. A full breakdown of the survey's data will be released in August. Currently available survey data can be seen online at www.kff.org.