High uptake of HIV testing in pregnant women in Ontario, Canada.

In 1999, Ontario implemented a policy to offer HIV counseling and testing to all pregnant women and undertook measures to increase HIV testing. We evaluated the effectiveness of the new policy by examining HIV test uptake, the number of HIV-infected women identified and, in 2002, the HIV rate in women not tested during prenatal care. We analyzed test uptake among women receiving prenatal care from 1999 to 2010.

Patterns of HIV testing among Ontario physicians.

Objective: HIV testing is important for HIV prevention and control. Nevertheless, approximately 35% of HIV infections in Ontario remain undiagnosed. We examined patterns of HIV testing among physicians to determine provider-related factors associated with HIV testing in Ontario.

Stress and increased HIV infection risk among gay and bisexual men.

Objective: Our principal objective was to determine whether psychosocial stress raises the risk of HIV infection among gay and bisexual men. If so, we also aimed to evaluate the evidence for the underlying mechanism, specifically whether stress has an intermediate effect on sexual risk behaviour or an independent, cofactor effect.

Methods: Participants were recruited through the provincial HIV diagnostic laboratory, physicians and community organizations in Ontario, Canada, 1998-2006.

The prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV-HIV co-infection in a community sample of gay and bisexual men.

Objective: To describe hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV prevalence and co-infection, and to examine variables associated with infection in a community sample of men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: Data were from an anonymous, cross-sectional study (N=5080) in Canada. Men self-completed a questionnaire and provided an optional saliva specimen for HCV and HIV testing.

Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus infections among inmates of Ontario remand facilities.

Background: Each year more than 56 000 adult and young offenders are admitted to Ontario's remand facilities (jails, detention centres and youth centres). The prevalence of HIV infection in Ontario remand facilities was last measured over a decade ago, and no research on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been conducted in such facilities. We sought to determine the prevalence of HIV infection, HCV infection and HIV-HCV coinfection among inmates in Ontario's remand facilities.