Table 2

Behavioural characteristics and knowledge attributes associated with late presentation at HIV diagnosis in Venezuela, Carabobo State.

Late presenters
 Total





n
 %
 n
 OR*(95%CI)
 P-value (PT)
BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS




Alcohol usea (n = 221)




     No alcohol
 32
 47.1
 68
 1
 -
     Social drinker
 33
 34.0
 97
 0.49 (0.25–0.97)
 0.041
     Moderate drinker
 18
 39.1
 46
 0.55 (0.24–1.25)
 0.155
     Alcoholic
 7
 70.0
 10
 1.61 (0.35–7.44)
 0.541
Drug abusea (n = 215)




     No
 82
 42.1
 195
 1
 -
     Yes
 8
 40.0
 20
 0.91 (0.34–2.44)
 0.855
Lifetime casual partnersb (n = 114)




     0
 8
 28.6
 28
 1
 - (0.286)
     1–10
 16
 34.8
 46
 1.66 (0.40–6.97)
 0.489
     >10
 21
 47.5
 40
 2.72 (0.60–12.48)
 0.197
Steady partnera (n = 219)




     No
 52
 48.6
 107
 1
 - (0.021)
     Yes, partner HIV- or unknown HIV status
 25
 40.3
 62
 0.66 (0.16–2.65)
 0.558
     Yes, partner HIV+
 12
 24.0
 50
 0.42 (0.19–0.92)
 0.030
Perception faithfulness steady partnerb




     Faithful
 23
 56.1
 41
 1
 -
     Unfaithful/Doubting faithfulness
 4
 16.0
 25
 0.18 (0.05–0.66)
 0.010
     No steady partner
 24
 38.1
 63
 0.49 (0.21–1.12)
 0.094
Time with steady partner (months)a, † (n = 106)




     <24
 10
 20.8
 48
 1
 - (0.010)
     25–120
 18
 40.0
 45
 2.49 (0.95–6.52)
 0.063
     >120
 7
 53.8
 13
 3.01(0.75–12.15)
 0.121
Condom usea (n = 169)




     Never
 39
 38.2
 102
 1
 -
     Sometimes
 13
 36.1
 36
 0.95 (0.40–2.26)
 0.911
     Often
 7
 38.9
 18
 0.96 (0.32–2.94)
 0.946
     Always
 6
 46.2
 13
 0.71 (0.21–2.41)
 0.583
Contact with commercial sex workersb,‡ (n = 93)




     No
 22
 34.4
 64
 1
 -
     Yes
 18
 62.1
 29
 2.54 (0.99–6.54)
 0.054
KNOWLEDGE ATTRIBUTES




Knowledge-HIV-transmission scoreb,§




     0 = no knowledge
 7
 63.6
 11
 1
 - (0.033)
     1–8 = poor knowledge
 9
 56.3
 16
 0.94 (0.18–5.03)
 0.944
     9–15 = good knowledge
 35
 34.3
 102
 0.32 (0.08–1.26)
 0.103
Awareness HIV testb




     Not aware of existence
 9
 64.3
 14
 1
 - (0.089)
     Aware of existence, but not aware it was for free
 26
 38.2
 68
 0.39 (0.11–1.38)
 0.143
     Aware of existence and that it was for free
 16
 34.0
 47
 0.31 (0.08–1.14)
 0.078
Awareness treatmentb




     Not aware of existence
 24
 40.0
 60
 1
 -
     Aware of existence, but not aware it was for free
 15
 34.1
 44
 0.79 (0.34–1.84)
 0.580
     Aware of existence and that it was for free
 12
 48.0
 25
 1.03 (0.37–2.86)
 0.951
Awareness PNSIDA scoreb, ** (n = 128)




     0 = no awareness
 7
 63.6
 11
 1
 - (0.055)
     1–4 = some awareness
 37
 38.5
 96
 0.32 (0.08–1.29)
 0.109
     5–7 = good awareness
 7
 33.3
 21
 0.20 (0.04–1.05)
 0.057
Total-HIV-knowledge scoreb,†† (n = 128)




     0–14 = low overall knowledge
 20
 51.3
 39
 1
 -
     15–28 = high overall knowledge
 31
 34.8
 89
 0.51 (0.23–1.13)
 0.096

aData source: patient files (n = 225). bData source: questionnaires (n = 129). Missing values are deducted by subtracting the total of individuals for each variable to the corresponding 225 (a) or 129 (b) patients. If totals are not indicated for a variable, it has no missing values. *Adjusted for age group and sex. †Only those with steady partner were included (n = 112). ‡Only men were included (n = 94). §Calculated from a 15-item HIV transmission question. **Calculated by adding all awareness variables. ††Calculated by adding knowledge HIV transmission score, awareness PNSIDA score and one point for each correct answer to 6 true-or-false statements about HIV/AIDS. OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; PT, Mantel-Haenszel Score test for trend P-value.

Bonjour et al. AIDS Research and Therapy 2008 5:6   doi:10.1186/1742-6405-5-6