Some Providers Fail To Adopt CDC Recommendations For Teen HIV Testing

Many physicians are not offering teenagers HIV testing, despite a 2006 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation urging health care providers to test all patients ages 13 through 64 routinely unless a patient declines, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Thirty-four percent of new HIV infections in the U.S. are among 13- to 29-year-olds, a rate higher than any other age group, according to 2006 CDC data. About 48% of teens with HIV are unaware of their status, compared with 21% of all HIV-positive U.S. residents.

Experts say physicians might not know about CDC's recommendations or might not have enough time to test all patients, especially in states that require extensive counseling and consent. In addition, some providers might feel uncomfortable discussing sexuality with teens. According to a recent study in Pediatrics, about two-thirds of more than 700 pediatricians surveyed said they were uncomfortable discussing sexual issues with adolescents. More than 50% said they did not have adequate training to talk with teens about testing for HIV or other sexually transmitted infections, the study found.