|
There are many articles written about the risks of contracting the HIV virus and then developing AIDs and just as many written about what treatments are available to those who have contracted HIV. But let us take a fresh look now at another factor involved in the HIV Testing environment. Within this topic is contained a major reason many people do not test for HIV , but also at the same time why many do test even if they know their risk of exposure is extremely low or even non-existent.. Here at Head Start testing we have been supplying HIV Test kits for individuals to test for HIV at home for several years and have as a result of this developed a certain understanding of the psychological motivators for testing and in fact not testing for HIV There is no doubt that the prospect of being diagnosed with HIV is generally considered to be an extremely terrifying and life threatening one. With that in mind it would appear that HIV testing was a standard default response to any potential exposure to the HIV virus, but it is not. Why, because human nature has a few quirks that bypass logic and allow emotion to direct our behaviours, even at times when we really need to act logically. Let us look at a few scenarios that adequately illustrate this overriding of logic. These examples are some generic trends we have seen in user comments and not actual individuals comments. -I don’t want to test for HIV because if I am HIV positive I don’t want to know. -I think I may have HIV but for the last 6 months I feel fine so I probably don’t. -I am worried I may have HIV but my partner has not shown any symptoms and I would have infected him/her by now. -I can’t sleep at night as I am so worried I have HIV after I kissed a prostitute who may have has a cold sore. -Ill tests for HIV after the window period but in the meantime I will continue to have unprotected sex with my partner. I need to get tested but I am worried my doctor will judge me. All the above are illustrations of how logic and common sense in individuals who have access to accurate information about the virus are ignoring that in order to cater to their emotions. These emotions are normally anxiety, shame or fear and can be extremely powerful forces. In general HIV self-testing can help some individuals to cater to their emotional forces and still carry out testing. However until we fully understand and cater to the psychology of HIV testing, many individuals will carry on untested. To assume everyone will act logically and carry out HIV testing within the boundaries of established testing regimes is the lack of psychological understanding that has left Australia with its increase in HIV rates.
Related Articles -
HIV testing, hiv test kits,
| 
