Table 2.
Rate of and Reasons for the Refusal of HIV Testing by Patients with TB as Cited by Health Care Providers, Connecticut December 2010 to January 2011 (N = 48)
| Health Care Provider Citations
|
||
|---|---|---|
| n | % | |
| Refusal rate of HIV testing in patients with TB | ||
| Never (0% of the time) | 11 | 22.9 |
| Infrequently (1%–35% of the time) | 34 | 70.8 |
| Often (36%–69% of the time) | 3 | 6.3 |
| Most of the time (70%–99% of the time) | 0 | 0.0 |
| Always (100% of the time) | 0 | 0.0 |
| Reasons why patients with TB refuse HIV testinga | ||
| Stigma associated with HIV diagnosis | 29 | 72.5 |
| Perception of not being at risk for HIV | 27 | 67.5 |
| Lack of understanding about HIV | 21 | 52.5 |
| Inability to mentally deal with HIV diagnosis | 17 | 42.5 |
| Financial difficulties | 1 | 2.5 |
Abbreviations: TB, tuberculosis; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.
a
Of 48 health care providers, 40 (83.3%) responded to this question; multiple reasons for why patients with TB refuse HIV testing could be cited (N = 40).