Barcelona 2013
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| Abstract #205 - E-Posters English | ||||
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Session: 50.77: E-Posters English (Poster) on Sunday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Cristina Agusti - CEEISCAT-Agència Salut Pública Catalunya, Spain |
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| Additional Authors: Dr. Jordi Casabona, Sra Cristina Sanclemente, Dra. Anna Esteve, Dra. Victoria Gonzalez, Grupo HIVITS TS, | ||||
| Aim: Early diagnosis of HIV infection is essential to decrease mortality, morbidity and transmission rates, allow counselling and assess suitability for treatment. The Community based voluntary counselling and testing services (CBVCTs) are commonly recognized as a good model to improve access to most-at-risk populations (MARP) by promoting its early HIV diagnosis and linkage to care. The European project co-funded by the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC), ?HIV community based testing practices in Europe? (HIV-COBATEST) (Grant Agreement N° 20091211) aims to promote early diagnosis of HIV infection in Europe by improving the implementation and evaluation of community-based testing practices. | ||||
| Method / Issue: The project has contributed to the establishment of a network of CBVCTs that monitor and evaluate HIV testing activity, and allow conducting operational research. The objectives of the COBATEST network are: 1) To develop and implement standardized questionnaires and procedures for monitoring and evaluation of CBVCT activity. 2) To evaluate the potential impact of CBVCTs in the improvement of HIV early diagnosis and access to treatment. 3) To consolidate a network of CBVCTs in which to perform operational research. 30 CBVCTs of 16 European countries participate in the network. | ||||
| Results / Comments: A standardised protocol to monitor HIV testing activities in the network has been defined. The Core Indicators to monitor Voluntary Counselling and testing for HIV developed by the HIV-COBATEST project are being used to monitor and evaluate the CBVCT screening activity in the network. CBVCTs members of the network share a common data collection instrument and a common data base that allow the analysis of global data and the comparison of data among them. Alternatively, those participating CBVCTs that are not able to use the consensus data collection form, and use their own data entry system, submit a minimum common data or, send the CBVCT core indicators to monitor and evaluate CBVCT testing activity. CBVCTs participating in the network use a unique Client Identification Code that ensures the anonymity of the client and allows the identification of repeat testers. A questionnaire to each client attending participating CBVCTs is performed by service?s staff. The questionnaire include: socio-demographical data, HIV test result, HIV testing history, hepatitis vaccination history, current/previous sexual practices, condom use, drug use, steady partner and occasional sex, and sex work. First data analysis is planned by the end of June 2013. | ||||
| Discussion: CBVCTs are in excellent position to improve all aspects of the HIV testing and counselling for those vulnerable and hard to reach. Most European countries have universal access to health care. Nevertheless, most of the vulnerable groups, such as IDUs, MSM and migrants, because of lack of risk perception, marginality, stigma or illegality, do not have active seeking behaviours for HIV testing or face important barriers to testing within the formal health care system. The COBATEST network will contribute to standardise information on the activity, process and results from CBVCTs across Europe. This information and tools will contribute to the improvement of these services and will inform policy makers to better contextualize these interventions within their national HIV Prevention Programs. | ||||
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