Risk factors for delayed entrance into care after diagnosis among patients with late-stage HIV disease in Southern Vietnam

The survey findings identify key issues within the Vietnamese health system that HIV programs can use to improve early enrollment in care soon after diagnosis. Among patients surveyed, the most common reasons for delayed entry were feeling healthy, fear of stigma and discrimination in the community, time conflicts with work or school, and fear of lack of confidentiality. These findings highlight the need for HIV programs to emphasize the benefits of early treatment, assure confidentiality throughout the HIV counseling process, expand community-based referral systems to link people to testing sites and HIV clinics, and decentralize care closer to patients’ homes.