Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #2248 - Poster 1 | ||||
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Session: 58.15: Poster 1 (Poster) on Tuesday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Ms Samantha Tessier - Association AIDES, France |
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| Additional Authors: Dr Kouassi Martin, Mr Brou Sylvain, | ||||
| Aim: Between 2012 and today, the CBO AIDES, has carried out 110, 400 tests among populations vulnerable to HIV infection within the framework of community-based testing programmes. The value of these programmes lies in the fact that they are conducted with and for vulnerable populations, they increase the number of new HIV diagnoses and they provide support for referral to care. Different behaviour as regards testing has also been noted since the number of individuals testing for the first time has decreased and periods of time between tests also. During our testing activities we have noticed that those who already know their HIV positive status have asked to re-do their test using the community-based approach. We tried to find out what were the reasons for re-testing. | ||||
| Method / Issue: In 2011, AIDES set up a computerised data collection system to observe and analyse all the activities carried out by the organisation. This data base includes information on prevention actions, testing, support and advocacy. Analysing these data allows us to ensure actions are followed through and to critically evaluate and readjust interventions as they are being conducted. This data collection system gives us information about individuals receiving a positive test result and whether they already knew their HIV status prior to the test. If they did, then we question the reason for getting the test done again. A descriptive analysis of data about this issue was conducted during testing activities between January 1st 2013 and December 31st 2014. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Out of the 85, 029 tests conducted by AIDES in 2013 and 2014, 631 had a positive result. 156 tests (24 %) were undergone by people who already knew they were HIV positive. Sample: Among these 156 people, there were 30 women (18.1%), 134 men (80.7%) including113 MSM (68%), and 2 transgender people (1.2%). In addition, 51 people were born abroad (30.7%) and 50% of those interviewed were over 40. Reasons for re-testing: 31% of people wanted to experience community-based testing, to observe the procedure to check its reliability and also if they were satisfied to promote it among friends and acquaintances. Testing is also an opportunity to talk about being HIV positive. 32% were HIV positive people on treatment (some had been on treatment for a long time) who had questions about the test’s sensitivity and especially in the case of an undetectable viral load. 23% wanted to double check their positive test result in a setting other than a laboratory, testing centre, hospital or abroad. For 12 of the people, re-testing was an opportunity to talk about being HIV positive, to ask AIDES workers questions about HIV about community-based testing, support, and care programmes. For 12 people it was a way of getting back into a health care programme or a way to access health care (for foreign people). | ||||
| Discussion: For HIV positive people, getting re-tested shows a desire to engage in dialogue on their HIV positive status with community-based stakeholders. Similarly, it can be the opprtunity to connect up with the health system for those who had little medical follow up or who had stopped seeing their doctor. More than a quarter of affected people wanted to try out the procedure. The recency of community-based testing could explain these figures. It can be assumed that in future years, the numbers in this group will go down dramatically. | ||||
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