Asian patients may be overlooked for HIV testing

January 2008

ATLANTA — Physicians should document HIV testing histories in Asian patients, who are often overlooked as a group who may be at risk for HIV.

According to the CDC, Asians and Pacific Islanders experienced the only statistically significant increases in HIV/AIDS diagnoses compared with all other racial groups in 2007.

The percentage of Asians and Pacific Islanders who develop AIDS within a year of their first HIV test is higher than any other race or ethnicity.

“Asians and Pacific Islanders are often grouped as ‘other’ so that just means it is a proxy for our true health issues,” said Matthew Magee, MPH, senior program manager of the Asian Health Coalition of Illinois. “There are low levels of perceived risk and a myth that this group does not engage in risky behavior.”

A study was conducted by the Asian Health Coalition of Illinois in collaboration with the Chinese American Health League and the Sinai Urban Health Institute. Magee presented the results at the 2007 National HIV Prevention Conference, held here recently.

The researchers collected HIV testing behavior data from the Chinatown population of Chicago and compared risks with other Chicago neighborhoods. The need for more HIV outreach in this population was demonstrated given the high amount of late HIV testing by Asians in Chicago and nationally.

“Physicians should realize that there are barriers to access, testing and care for this community and should document HIV testing history for all patients,” Magee said.

Methods

A three-tier random sampling plan was used to select eligible census blocks, households and individuals in Chicago’s Chinatown.

All participants (n=219) were aged 18 years or older and the median age was 54 years. The majority were women (58%) and all were self-identified as Asian. Most participants were born in China (85%) and the majority lived in Chinatown for at least 15 years.

Questionnaires were completed in Cantonese, Mandarin or English and were conducted at the participants’ residences.

The health data were compared with data collected using identical methods in 2003-2005 from three other Chicago communities. The communities are South Lawnside, which is predominantly Mexican-American; Roseland, which is predominantly black; and Norwood Park, which is predominantly white.

Results

Fourteen percent of the Asian participants had previously been tested for HIV, compared with 40% of Mexican-Americans, 64% of blacks and 44% of whites in select communities in Chicago. Among Asians who reported HIV testing, 19% were sexually active.

“Our findings are consistent with national data in which Asian and Pacific Islanders progress to AIDS faster than any other group because they are getting tested later on in the disease,” Magee said.

Participants who reported having an HIV test were on average younger, English-speaking and more educated. They also had more knowledge of HIV or knew someone with HIV.

Chinatown residents had the lowest reported HIV testing in the 18 to 49 years age group compared with any other neighborhoods.

For more information:

• Magee M, Allgood K, Shah A, et al. Lifetime history of HIV testing is lower among South Chinatown residents in Chicago than in other community neighborhoods. Presented at: The 2007 National HIV Prevention Conference; Dec. 2-5, 2007; Atlanta.