• Julie H Levison, Margarita Alegría, Ye Wang, Sheri L Markle, Larmiar Fuentes, Dianna L Mejia, Andrew Tarbox, Lucía Albarracín García, Lucía Cellerino, and Nabila El-Bassel.
• Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital of Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. jlevison@partners.org.
• AIDS Behav. 2019 Apr 1; 23 (4): 835-846.

AbstractLatino immigrants with substance use and mental health problems are at risk for undiagnosed HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Participants in a randomized control trial were recruited in Boston, USA and Madrid and Barcelona, Spain. Eligibility criteria were Latino self-identification, age 18-70, elevated substance use and mental health symptoms, and not currently in substance or mental health care. A multinomial logistic regression examined predictors of HIV/STI testing decline and lost to follow-up (LTFU) prior to testing compared with acceptance. Of 341 participants, 74% accepted testing, 4% declined, and 22% were LTFU. The odds of LTFU were higher in those with high concern for HIV and those whose main partner had done HIV testing. Age ≥ 35 years, females, higher education, and higher report of discrimination lowered the odds of LTFU. Delivery of HIV/STI testing through community agencies and outreach could overcome barriers to HIV/STI diagnosis in this population of Latinos.Clinical Trial Number: NCT02038855.

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