Anna Hachfeld|Bruno Ledergerber|Katharine Darling|Rainer Weber|Alexandra Calmy|Manuel Battegay|Kiyoshi Sugimoto|Caroline Di Benedetto|Christoph A. Fux|Philip E. Tarr|Roger D. Kouyos|Hansjakob Furrer|Gilles Wandeler
Reasons for late presentation to HIV care in Switzerland
University Hospital of Bern|University of Bern|University Hospital of Zurich|University of Zurich|University Hospital of Zurich|University of Zurich|University Hospital of Geneva|University Hospital of Basel|University of Basel|University of St. Gallen|Ospedale regionale di Lugano|University Hospital of Basel|University of Basel|University Hospital of Zurich|University of Zurich|University Hospital of Bern|University of Bern|University Hospital of Bern|University of Bern
late presentation hiv care leads increased morbidity mortality explored risk factors reasons late hiv testing presentation care nationally representative swiss hiv cohort study shcsadult patients enrolled shcs july 2009 june 2012 included initial cd4 count 350 cellsl aidsdefining illness defined late presentation demographic behavioural characteristics late presenters lps compared nonlate presenters nlps information selfreported individual barriers hiv testing care obtained facetoface interviewsof 1366 patients included 680 498 lps seventytwo percent eligible patients took part survey lps likely female p0001 subsaharan africa p0001 less likely highly educated p0002 men sex men p0001 lps likely first hiv test following doctors suggestion p001 nlps context regular checkup p002 specific risk situation p0001 main reasons late hiv testing feel risk 72 feel ill 65 know symptoms hiv 51 seventyone percent participants symptomatic year preceding hiv diagnosis majority consulted physician symptomsin switzerland late presentation care driven late hiv testing due low risk perception lack awareness hiv tailored hiv testing strategies enhanced providerinitiated testing urgently needed