HIV Testing Behaviors of Female Sex Workers and Policemen in Kenya.

Daphne Lofquist, Bowling Green State University

The present study seeks to raise awareness and expand knowledge about the dynamics involved in at-risk populations’ decision-making about the costs and benefits of voluntary HIV testing and acquisition of the diagnostic results using a nascent health belief model framework refined by a gendered power perspective. Using data from the 2002 Kenya Behavioral Surveillance Survey, I analyze female sex workers and policemen files to investigate the factors associated with the acceptance and pursuit of HIV testing and diagnosis knowledge. Although preliminary and only at the bivariate level there are still some interesting findings. The results show that female sex workers are slightly more willing to utilize HIV testing facilities than are policemen. What is most noteworthy is that FSW are drastically more like to receive their test results than are the policemen. These findings could have implications for policy makers and service providers.