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Temporal Trends and Characteristics of Community-Based HIV Testing: First Community-Based Testing Program Results of
Tristan Alain1,2, Maxime Inghels3,4, Jean-Mary Mérisier5
1AIDES, Pantin, France.
To increase HIV status awareness among men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSWs), a community-based HIV testing program was implemented for the first time in Haiti. We aimed to assess 1) the effectiveness of the program to reach HIV-exposed populations over time and 2) the characteristics, HIV exposure, and testing profile of program participants. Rapid diagnostic HIV testing (RDT) was offered to all individuals present in several community-based settings across Haiti. Trends in the number of tested individuals, first-time tested, and HIV positive tested per intervention were described using linear regression. Characteristics and factors related to the first-time test were described. Between July 2015 and April 2018, 445 interventions in 91 community-based venues resulted in 3,998 rapid tests performed. A median of eight individuals was tested per intervention, with 18% first-time testers and 6% with HIV-positive results. The overall numbers of tests and positive test results increased over the intervention program period. Within 1,572 first-time RDT testers (1,216 MSM, 235 FSWs, and 121 nonkey population), 31% (n = 489) were first-time HIV testers. First-time tested individuals reported HIV exposure, such as lack of condom use at last intercourse (33%), transactional sex (35%), and recent (≤12 months) sexually transmitted infection (12%). The community-based HIV testing program effectively reached HIV-positive and previously untested individuals over a 3-year period. Continued community-based testing in conjunction with other HIV testing services is recommended for Haiti.
To increase HIV status awareness among men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSWs), a community-based HIV testing program was implemented for the first time in Haiti. We aimed to assess 1) the effectiveness of the program to reach HIV-exposed populations over time and 2) the characteristics, HIV exposure, and testing profile of program participants. Rapid diagnostic HIV testing (RDT) was offered to all individuals present in several community-based settings across Haiti. Trends in the number of tested individuals, first-time tested, and HIV positive tested per intervention were described using linear regression. Characteristics and factors related to the first-time test were described. Between July 2015 and April 2018, 445 interventions in 91 community-based venues resulted in 3,998 rapid tests performed. A median of eight individuals was tested per intervention, with 18% first-time testers and 6% with HIV-positive results. The overall numbers of tests and positive test results increased over the intervention program period. Within 1,572 first-time RDT testers (1,216 MSM, 235 FSWs, and 121 nonkey population), 31% (n = 489) were first-time HIV testers. First-time tested individuals reported HIV exposure, such as lack of condom use at last intercourse (33%), transactional sex (35%), and recent (≤12 months) sexually transmitted infection (12%). The community-based HIV testing program effectively reached HIV-positive and previously untested individuals over a 3-year period. Continued community-based testing in conjunction with other HIV testing services is recommended for Haiti.
