Everyone probably knows that I work in HIV prevention, and there is one issue that surrounds testing that is always debated, and is honestly something that I think about a lot. (Note: While I am NOT talking about work, but am talking about HIV prevention, the obvious connection is there, but I don’t want anyone to think that there is any motive by my asking, or any true tie between the two. They are just related based on in intellectual interest and sheer curiosity. Again, this is NOT FOR or ABOUT WORK!) The issue of which I speak, has to do with whether or not people that get tested for HIV are deterred in any way because the test is confidential vs. being anonymous. In case you don’t know, confidential testing does record some identifying information about you that is recorded and reported to the county in which you test, and ultimately to the government (HIV prevalence and all that good stuff); whereas anonymous means you get the test, and that’s it, nobody knows who you are, and you are identified by only an arbitrary number (of course, if you test positive, it is recorded, but it is not associated with you, it is the number that is recorded).
Basically, out of my own intellectual curiosity, I want to ask you this: if and when you test (you better all be testing regularly… even you straight ones) are you more or less likely to test somewhere or in some situation because the testing being offered is confidential vs. anonymous? If so, then why? Does it even make a difference to you? (and this is a personal preference type question; no one is wrong here, and there will be no consequences to any answer; as I stated, this is mere curiosity.) If so, which test do YOU prefer; and how does it effect your willingness and frequency to test?
Seriously though, just to state again, this is not related to work; it is my own curiosity. It is something that I honestly think about a lot, and find very interesting. Hopefully you have found it interesting enough to read through this post, and even interesting enough to provide you own responses.
13 comments for “does it make a difference to you?”