Abstract
PTH 4: Mental Health and Refugees 2, B307 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 14:00 - 14:48
Introduction: In Denmark, approximately 6,700 people live with HIV. About 40% of all new HIV cases in Denmark are migrants. Studies show that migrants are typically diagnosed with HIV several years after arriving in Denmark, indicating a worrying missed opportunity for testing. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the experience of accessing HIV testing among migrants living in Denmark.
Methods: The study participants were recruited between April and July 2021 at the outpatient HIV clinics in departments of infectious diseases at two large hospitals in Denmark. We included informants that: 1) were 18 years of age or older, 2) were born in Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, or Africa, and 3) who had tested positive with HIV after 1st January 2013 in Denmark. In total 19 particpants were included. We conducted individual interviews based on a semi-structured interview guide and analysed through thematic network analysis.
Results: The study found that risk perception and stigma were important factors with regards to seeking HIV testing among migrants. From the study three pathways to diagnosis emerged: 1) feeling ill and seeking healthcare, 2) fertility or pregnancy-related screening, and 3) routine HIV testing. Pathways importantly differed between MSM and heterosexual informants.
Conclusion: The study showed an increased need for provider-initiated testing, conducted in a non-stigmatising way, to promote early diagnosis of HIV among migrants in Denmark. Structural policies and practices should be put in place to ensure this.