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HIV testing in Europe: mapping policies.
Jessika Deblonde1, Herman Meulemans, Steven Callens
1Ghent University, International Centre for Reproductive Health, De Pintelaan 185 P3, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Jessika.deblonde@ugent.be
Health Policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|July 29, 2011
Summary
National HIV testing policies in EU/EEA countries show a high level of exceptionalism, with some progress towards normalization. Policies integrate voluntary and targeted testing, but practices require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy Analysis
Background:
- Historically, HIV testing was exceptional due to lack of treatment and discrimination.
- Increasing treatment effectiveness necessitates early HIV diagnosis and normalization of testing.
- Understanding national policies is crucial for effective HIV/AIDS prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map national HIV testing policies across European countries.
- To explore characteristics and variations in HIV testing policies.
- To assess the level of exceptionalism versus normalization in HIV testing policies.
Main Methods:
- Survey of key informants in EU/EEA health authorities.
- Assessment of HIV testing policies using a conceptual framework.
- Scoring exceptionalism and normalization based on defined policy attributes.
Main Results:
- 24 out of 31 EU/EEA countries participated.
- Policies generally support confidential, voluntary testing with informed consent and counseling.
- 14 countries scored high on exceptionalism, while only 3 scored high on normalization; some countries showed a mix.
Conclusions:
- Most EU/EEA countries are integrating HIV testing into healthcare via voluntary and targeted strategies.
- Current HIV testing policies demonstrate significant exceptionalism with varied normalization.
- Further research is needed to align HIV testing policies with actual practices.
