HIV Testing in Community Outreach and Clinics
Author Information
Author(s): Peter MacPherson, Anu Chawla, Kathy Jones, Emer Coffey, Vida Spaine, Ian Harrison, Pauline Jelliman, Penelope Phillips-Howard, Caryl Beynon, Miriam Taegtmeyer
Primary Institution: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
Can point of care HIV testing increase testing uptake in marginalized groups?
Conclusion
Point of care HIV testing was found to be feasible and acceptable, successfully reaching underserved populations.
Supporting Evidence
- 953 individuals underwent point of care testing for HIV.
- Seventeen new HIV diagnoses were confirmed, with a prevalence of 1.8%.
- 84% of participants preferred point of care testing to laboratory testing.
- 96% of community site participants would recommend point of care testing.
Takeaway
This study shows that testing for HIV can be done easily in the community, helping people who might not usually get tested.
Methodology
Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods including questionnaires and focus group discussions.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-selection of participants and the nature of focus group discussions.
Limitations
Participants may represent those with strong feelings about the service, and focus group dynamics may have influenced results.
Participant Demographics
Majority male, median age 29, with significant representation from UK Africans and IDUs.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.028
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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