scholarly journals Mobile HIV testing in South Africa: maximizing yield through data-guided site selection

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-161
Author(s):  
T. Mabuto ◽  
S. Holzman ◽  
G. Kubeka ◽  
C. J. Hoffmann

BACKGROUND: Mobile community HIV testing can effectively reach undiagnosed people living with HIV in southern Africa. Variable yield in HIV test positivity has been a challenge with high- and low-yield sites often being closely situated. We sought to test whether easy-to-identify, site-level characteristics were associated with HIV positivity yield in a routine mobile HIV testing program.METHODS: We used routine testing program test data augmented with site-level characterization, either of the community or shopping site at which HIV testing was offered. Specifically, we described the local environment and interviewed key informants to gain additional information regarding the availability of HIV and other services in the locale.RESULTS: We included 122 residential and 26 shopping sites with median HIV-positive test yields of 7.6% and 6.9%, respectively. The range for community sites was from 2 to 55% with high and low yields at geographically proximal sites. Factors related to lower income and marginalization, including informal housing and the absence of name-brand stores in shopping venues, were associated with higher HIV-positive testing yield.CONCLUSIONS: Characterization of sites, particularly identifying factors related to marginalization, lack of services, and poverty, can aid in identifying sites with higher HIV-positive yield.

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1184
Author(s):  
Cibangu Katamba

Background: As the proportions of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who do not know their HIV infection status decrease, reaching the remaining few who are asymptomatic and not in contact with the health care system becomes a critical challenge. Therefore, reaching the first 90 of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets will require effective and efficient HIV testing approaches. The number of PLHIV who know their HIV status and who receive antiretroviral therapy could increase by the expansion of index testing services. Methods: This project was a retrospective study looking at medical records of HIV positive clients who were elicited for index testing between October and December 2019. It was conducted in three high volume health facilities in Matero Urban sub-district 3 in Lusaka, Zambia. Results: The HIV test outcomes for index contacts were as follows: 452 index contacts (53.5%) tested HIV negative, 113 index contacts (13.4%) tested HIV positive, 108 index contacts (12.8%) were known HIV positive, and 172 index contacts (20.4%) were not yet tested for HIV. Of the 113 contacts who tested HIV positive, 90 index contacts started anti-retroviral therapy within 7 days (79.6%). The total number of 845 contacts were elicited from 604 index clients, giving a low elicitation ratio of 1:1.4. There was not much difference between gender for elicited contacts (423 men and 422 women). A total number of 565 index contacts were eligible for HIV test. 113 of them tested HIV positive, representing a positivity yield of 20%. Pearson Chi-Square test value was 0.498 and the p value was 0.481. This result is not significant since p value (0.481) is greater than the designated alpha level (0.05). Conclusions: HIV programs need to explore and address barriers to HIV partner testing services to avoid over-testing and maximize HIV case identification (thus, improving HIV testing positivity yield).


2017 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Blain Johnston ◽  
Joss N Reimer ◽  
John L Wylie ◽  
Jared Bullard

ObjectivesHIV point-of-care testing (POCT) has been available in Manitoba since 2008. This study evaluated the effectiveness of POCT at identifying individuals with previously unknown HIV status, its effects on clinical outcomes and the characteristics of the populations reached.MethodsA retrospective database review was conducted for individuals who received HIV POCT from 2011 to 2014. Time to linkage to care and viral load suppression were compared between individuals who tested positive for HIV using POCT and controls identified as positive through standard screening. Testing outcomes for labouring women with undocumented HIV status accessing POCT during labour were also assessed.Results3204 individuals received POCT (1055 females (32.9%) and 2149 males (67.1%)), being the first recorded HIV test for 2205 (68.8%). Males were more likely to be targeted with POCT as their first recorded HIV test (adjusted OR (AOR) 1.40). Between the two main test sites (Main Street Project (MSP) and Nine Circles Community Health Centre), MSP tested relatively fewer males (AOR 0.79) but a higher proportion of members of all age groups over 30 years old (AOR 1.83, 2.51 and 3.64 for age groups 30–39, 40–49 and >50, respectively). There was no difference in time to linkage to care (p=0.345) or viral load suppression (p=0.405) between the POCT and standard screening cohorts. Of 215 women presenting in labour with unknown HIV status, one was identified as HIV positive.ConclusionsPOCT in Manitoba has been successful at identifying individuals with previously unknown HIV-positive status. Demographic differences between the two main testing sites support that this intervention is reaching unique populations. Given that we observed no significant difference in time to clinical outcomes, it is reasonable to continue using POCT as a targeted intervention.MeSH termsHIV infection; rapid HIV testing; vertical infectious disease transmission; community outreach; service delivery; marginalised populations.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rewel Kariuki ◽  
Gilbert Koome Rithaa ◽  
Oyugi Elvis ◽  
Daniel Gachathi

Abstract Background: Identification of people living with HIV is key in HIV prevention and control. Partner Notification service is a World Health Organization backed strategy of reaching out to sexual partners of people diagnosed with HIV for HIV testing. However, its adoption and success rate in Kenya remains unknown.Methods: A cross sectional facility based study was undertaken in five purposively selected health facilities in Muranga County, Kenya. A retrospective review of patient medical records data for HIV positive index clients and their Sexual Partners conducted. Census approach applied to extract data for study subjects from Partner Notification Service registers for the period covering January 2017 to August 2018. Epi Info software was used for data analysis.Results: A total of 183 index clients offered Partner notification services. The mean age of the indexed clients studied was 39(SD ±13.1). Females comprised 64 % of clients studied. Of the 183 indexed clients, 89% accepted the services and elicited 216 sexual partners for tracing. The ratio of elicited sexual partners to index client was 1.3:1. Out of the 216 sexual partners, 77% were reached and tested. A total of 46 [32%] of the sexual partners elicited and traced, tested HIV positive. The most preferred approaches were provider referral (51%) and contract referral (45%). Dual referral (4%) was the least preferred approach. Conclusions: Partner notification services is acceptable and an effective strategy of increasing HIV case identification and raising awareness to exposed sexual partners in low resource countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulmaz Ghahramani ◽  
Hassan Joulaei ◽  
Amir Human Hoveidaei ◽  
Mohammad Reza Rajabi ◽  
Kamran Bagheri Lankarani

Background: Hospital admission for any reason provides the situation for voluntary HIV testing and consultation. Identifying the predictors of positivity may lead to a cost-effective method while enhancing professionalism. Objectives: To find the predictors of HIV-positive test result in a general hospital in Shiraz compared to a control group. Methods: In this case-control study, the records of all patients who received HIV testing upon their hospitalization in a general hospital in Shiraz, south of Iran, from January 2017 to the end of December 2017 were reviewed. For each HIV-positive case, at least one control from the same ward in the hospital with negative HIV test result was randomly selected. Based on the best-fitted model of logistic regression, the probability of positive HIV test results was estimated for each participant according to the risk factors, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn. Results: Out of 7333 persons who accepted to be tested, 77 patients tested positive for HIV, of whom 55 (71.4%) were male with the mean age of 41.5 ± 9.5 years. None of the HIV-positive patients were intravenous drug users, nor had they a history of imprisonment. The odds ratio (OR) was 21 for hepatitis-positive patients (hepatitis B and/or C) compared to negative ones, which was seven times higher in opium addicts than non-opium addicts. We developed a model using age, sex, opium addiction, and HBV and HCV status to predict the probability of being positive for HIV with an AUC of 0.853 (95% confidence interval 0.797 to 0.909). Conclusions: Hospital admission could be an appropriate momentum for providing voluntary counseling and testing. Infection with HBV and HCV are important risk factors for HIV infection, and additional testing should be offered, especially to these patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 569-576
Author(s):  
Ester Gutiérrez-Velilla ◽  
Francisco J Quezada-Juárez ◽  
Ivonne N Pérez-Sánchez ◽  
Maria C Iglesias ◽  
Gustavo Reyes-Terán ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to analyze risk factors for HIV-positive tests in walk-in users and in hospitalized patients in a Mexico City hospital. We undertook a cross-sectional study based on routine HIV testing and counseling service data in adults undergoing an HIV test from January 2015 to July 2017. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine risk factors for walk-in and hospitalized patients. The results showed that 2040 people tested during the period; hospitalized patients were more likely to test HIV-positive than walk-in users (18 versus 15%; p < 0.05). HIV risk factors for hospitalized patients included being men who have sex with men (MSM) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.2, 95% CI 2.0–26.5), divorced (aOR 4.4, 95% CI 1.3–14.4), having 3–5 lifetime sexual partners (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.0–7.4), and being in the emergency room (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 1.1–11.3), intensive care (aOR 27.2, 95% CI 3.4–217.2), or clinical pneumology wards (aOR 33.4, 95% CI 9.7–115.2). In the walk-in group, HIV risk factors included being male (aOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–5.9), being MSM (aOR 4.3, 95% CI 2.0–9.5), having sex while using drugs (aOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.0), being referred by a physician for testing (aOR 3.2, 95% CI 1.6–6.3), and perceiving oneself at risk (aOR 3.8, 95% CI 2.3–6.3). Differential risk factors found among hospitalized patients and walk-in testers can be helpful in designing better HIV testing strategies to increase early diagnosis and linkage to care.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (13) ◽  
pp. 1289-1294
Author(s):  
Elaney Youssef ◽  
Tanjinder Sanghera ◽  
Andrew Bexley ◽  
Madeleine Hayes ◽  
Nicky Perry ◽  
...  

Approximately 13% of people living with HIV in the UK are undiagnosed which has significant implications in terms of onward transmission and late diagnosis. HIV testing guidelines recommend routine screening in anyone presenting to healthcare with an HIV indicator condition (IC); however, this does not occur routinely. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using case note prompts highlighting the presence of an IC to increase HIV testing. Clinicians in three outpatient departments received case note prompts either before or after a period of clinician-led identification. Test offer and uptake rates were assessed. A parallel anonymous seroprevalence study estimated the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV. A total of 4191 patients had an appointment during the study period; 608 (14.5%) had an IC. HIV test offer was significantly higher when a prompt was inserted into notes (34.3% versus 3.2%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of diagnosed HIV in the cohort was 4.1%. No cases of undiagnosed HIV infection were identified. Despite guidelines, offer of HIV testing is low. Strategies to increase routine screening of patients presenting with an IC are needed. Individual case note prompts significantly increase HIV test offer; however, the effect is lost if the strategy is withdrawn.


Sexual Health ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria de Bruyn ◽  
Susan Paxton

With increased availability of antiretroviral therapy, there is an escalating global trend to test all pregnant women for HIV in order to stop perinatal transmission. However, insufficient consideration is given to the impact this may have on the lives of these women and their families. Many women feel pressured into HIV testing during pregnancy, do not receive adequate pre-test counselling or do not give truly informed consent. Some women who test positive experience significantly more discrimination from their partners, families and community members than HIV-positive men do. As a consequence, large numbers of women diagnosed during pregnancy do not tell their husband their status because they fear blame, abandonment or abuse, including physical assault. Women who do disclose their HIV status may face dramatic negative repercussions on their own and their children’s wellbeing. Consequently, it is unfair to test women during pregnancy solely or mainly to help prevent perinatal transmission if there are no available support services to protect the women’s rights, enable them to live healthily after an HIV-positive diagnosis and engage them in the policies and programmes that affect women’s lives. We need to create a climate that encourages HIV testing before pregnancy so that women can make informed reproductive choices. Men must be brought into the testing process through couple counselling before pregnancy and scaling up of voluntary counselling and testing programmes outside the antenatal care setting. In addition, people living with HIV have unique expertise and are very effective as peer counsellors. They have been under-utilised in the health care sector to provide support to newly-diagnosed people and to help eliminate AIDS-related shame and stigma.


Sexual Health ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Crosby ◽  
Elizabeth A. Bonney ◽  
Lydia Odenat

Background: The study identified correlates of women’s perception that testing positive for HIV would be very difficult to communicate to friends, family members and sex partners. We also determined whether perceived disclosure difficulty was associated with HIV-testing intent. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 143 women attending an urgent care centre in Atlanta, Georgia. The centre served primarily low-income or indigent African–American women. A three-item scale (α = 0.81) assessed disclosure difficulty. Assessed correlates included selected social/contextual factors and intrapersonal factors. Results: In controlled multivariate analyses, only the social/contextual factors were associated with HIV disclosure difficulty. Women perceiving an inability to cope with positive results were more likely to report high disclosure difficulty (P = 0.01). Women perceiving an inadequate support system and those believing that HIV would substantially complicate their lives were more likely to anticipate high disclosure difficulty (P = 0.006 and P = 0.03, respectively). Disclosure difficulty was not associated with intent for HIV-testing ‘today’ (P = 0.50) or within the next 12 months (P = 0.27). Conclusion: Findings provide initial evidence suggesting that selected social/contextual factors rather than intrapersonal factors are associated with anticipated disclosure difficulty of HIV-positive test results among low-income minority women, residing in the urban south. High levels of anticipated disclosure difficulty may not preclude HIV test acceptance.


2008 ◽  
Vol 123 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace L. Reynolds ◽  
Dennis G. Fisher ◽  
Lucy E. Napper ◽  
Kimberly A. Marsh ◽  
Christine Willey ◽  
...  

Objectives. Bundling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing with tests for other infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, syphilis, or gonorrhea has been proposed as a method to recruit at-risk individuals into HIV testing. The objectives of this study were to determine ( 1) the types of at-risk clients who choose the rapid vs. standard HIV test when bundled with hepatitis and sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests, and ( 2) whether clients receiving a rapid HIV test are more likely to return on time for hepatitis and STI test results. Methods. We recruited individuals from drug treatment programs, methadone maintenance programs, needle-exchange programs, a community-based agency serving the gay and lesbian community, and the Center for Behavioral Research and Services' office-based testing facility at California State University, Long Beach from January 2005 through November 2007. Results. A total of 2,031 clients from a multiple morbidities testing program in Long Beach, California, were tested between January 2005 and November 2007. For clients receiving hepatitis and STI testing, the majority chose the standard HIV test. Clients who received a rapid HIV test returned in significantly fewer days than clients who received a standard HIV test. Injection drug users and sex traders were more likely to choose the standard HIV test and more likely to fail to return for test results on time. Conclusion. The rapid HIV test, in conjunction with hepatitis and STI tests, results in clients being more likely to return on time for hepatitis and STI results. Public health efforts should focus on acquainting high-risk clients with rapid HIV testing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S466-S466
Author(s):  
Jillian T Baron ◽  
Alexis Schwartz ◽  
Ebony Davis ◽  
Julie E Uspal ◽  
Brendan Kelly

Abstract Background Emergency Departments (EDs) are important sites for HIV testing. However, there is little guidance on how best to implement HIV testing in the ED. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HIV screening practices of high-risk individuals presenting to an ED in the absence (ED1) and in the presence (ED2) of an established HIV testing program within the same academic hospital. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of all individuals 18 years or older presenting to either ED between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018. High-risk of HIV infection was determined by receipt of bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis. The primary outcome was receipt of any HIV test in the ED. Overall proportions of patients tested for HIV at the same time of STI testing were compared between sites by chi-square test. Predictors of HIV testing were analyzed by logistic regression. Results During the study period, 7,956 individuals received STI testing at ED1 and 10,815 received STI testing at ED2. The majority of individuals receiving STI testing at both sites were female, 81.2% at ED1 and 66.4% at ED2 (P <0.001). Only 4.0% of individuals received HIV testing at ED1 compared with 47.4% at ED2 (P <0.001). Individuals were significantly more likely to receive HIV testing at the time of STI testing in the ED with an HIV testing program (aOR 19.66, 95% CI 17.28–22.37). In the ED without an HIV testing program, individuals were more likely to receive HIV testing if they were male (aOR 3.57, 95% CI 2.78–4.55) and less likely if they were black (aOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.50–0.97). In the ED with an HIV testing program, individuals were more likely to receive HIV testing if they were male (aOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.92–2.44) and more likely if they were black (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.37–2.20). Conclusion Overall, the presence of an HIV testing program in the ED significantly increased the probability that individuals would receive an HIV test at the time of bacterial STI testing and mitigated disparities in care. The results of this study will help guide ongoing interventions to improve HIV screening among high-risk individuals in the emergency department. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


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