Building stakeholder partnerships for an on-site HIV testing programme.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• HIV/AIDS Prevention
• Community Health Programs

Background:

• Gay saunas and sex clubs serve populations at high risk for HIV infection.
• These venues present unique opportunities for HIV outreach and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT).
• Establishing VCT programs in these settings faces significant management and logistical barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe how stakeholders overcame barriers to implement a VCT program in a gay sauna.
• To evaluate the process of establishing a regular and frequent on-site VCT program.
• To understand factors contributing to the successful utilization of VCT services by patrons.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative data collection through a process evaluation.
• Analysis of stakeholder collaboration in overcoming implementation challenges.
• Assessment of program utilization by patrons.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders successfully collaborated to address disparate interests and responsibilities.
• A regular and frequent on-site VCT program was established and fully utilized.
• The study identified effective strategies for managing VCT program components in high-risk venues.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders are crucial for successful VCT program implementation in gay saunas.
• Overcoming logistical and interest-based barriers can lead to fully utilized HIV prevention services.
• Gay saunas can be effectively integrated into HIV outreach strategies through dedicated program development.