[Anonymous and free screenings: population comparison between those conducted on-site in a testing centre and those...

The free and anonymous HIV testing centre of Fernand Widal Hospital (CDAG) regularly organises off-site visits to distribute information and provide screening for people at high risk in the community. To demonstrate the benefits of this action, this at-risk targeted population in the community was compared with that which comes to the centre. The individuals screened during the community off-site visits in 2005 were recorded. An equivalent number of patients coming spontaneously to the centre for screening were used as a reference point for comparison. The socio-demographic characteristics, the delay in time between the screening and return to the CDAG for the results and the screening results of the number of people infected were analysed. In total, 427 persons out of 443 were screened in 14 visits: 7,7% of persons tested off-site were infected versus 5,4% of those screened at the centre. Those who were tested off-site were in most cases infected with Hepatitis C, whereas HIV was more prevalent in those who had come to the CDAG centre. The African population (53,6%) was more significantly affected. Even when their results were positive (83,3%), 34,2% of patients tested off-site did not come to get their results versus only 8,2% of those who had come to the hospital centre for testing. The off-site community visits strengthen the role and the capacity of the CDAG to fulfil its mission because high-risk individuals are much less likely to come to the centre for screening. However measures must be taken and procedures established to improve the process and opportunity for results to be returned to the individuals, as well as follow-up and management of those who test positive for infection.