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Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
Published on: April 9, 2014
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Community-Based, Rapid HIV Screening and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Initiation: Findings From a Pilot Program
David H Schaffer1, Lindsey M Sawczuk2, Hui Zheng1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
Cureus
|February 11, 2022
Summary
A community-based program offered accessible HIV screening and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation. This novel approach reached high-risk populations, revealing disparities in HIV testing and risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- HIV Prevention
Background:
- Limited access to healthcare necessitates alternative HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) strategies.
- Community-based programs can bridge gaps in healthcare access for preventative services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel, community-based HIV screening and PrEP initiation program.
- To report preliminary findings on program reach and effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- A pop-up HIV screening and PrEP initiation program was implemented in Washington, DC.
- Data on screening, risk assessment, and PrEP education were collected over 25 months.
- Odds ratios were calculated to identify disparities in HIV risk factors and prior testing.
Main Results:
- 846 individuals were screened; 0.709% tested HIV-positive.
- 13% had never been screened; 13% had major HIV risk factors.
- Significant disparities in risk factors and testing history were observed across racial and gender groups.
Conclusions:
- The program was the first of its kind in the US, proving cost-effective and accessible.
- It successfully reached high-risk and underserved populations.
- The study highlighted the influence of race and gender on the HIV epidemic.
