Perception of pre- and post-HIV test counseling among patients diagnosed with aids in adolescence HIV test counseling for adolescents

Racial HIV Testing Inequalities in Adolescent Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Three Brazilian Cities

Many barriers to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among Black people exist. This study analysed the association between race/skin colour and lifetime HIV testing among adolescent men who have sex with men (AMSM) and transgender women (ATGW) in three Brazilian cities. This cross-sectional study was nested within the PrEP1519 cohort, a multicentre study of AMSM and ATGW aged 15-19 years in Belo Horizonte, Salvador, and São Paulo, Brazil. The outcome variable was the lifetime HIV testing (no or yes). The main exposure variable was self-reported race/skin colour as White and a unique Black group (composed of Pardo-mixed colour and Black, according to the Brazilian classification). Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to determine the association between the main exposure and outcome, adjusted for covariates. White adolescents were tested more frequently than the unique Black group (64.0% vs. 53.7%, respectively; Ρ = 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the unique Black group of AMSM and ATGW had 26% (adjusted OR [aOR], 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55-0.98) and 38% (aOR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.45-0.87) lower odds of being tested for HIV in a lifetime than Whites in model 1 and 2, respectively. Our findings highlight the role of racism in lifetime HIV testing among AMSM and ATGW. Therefore, an urgent need for advances exists in public policies to combat racism in Brazil.

The south american context of diagnostic disclosure of adolescents infected by HIV/AIDS: a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the scientific evidence on the disclosure of the diagnostic of adolescents infected by HIV/AIDS in the South American context.

DATABASE

Systematic literature review using the PubMed, Cinahal, Embase, Cochrane, BVS, and Global Health databases and the descriptors: adolescent and HIV and family and Argentina or Bolivia or Brasil or Chile or Colombia or Ecuador or French Guiana or Paraguay or Peru or Uruguay or Venezuela.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Brasil was the country highlighted. It was verified that parents have a direct and indirect influence over the adolescents' life, especially regarding behaviors and health care. Dialog among family members can reduce adolescents' vulnerability to HIV and encourage diagnostic disclosure.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to amplify research involving adolescents with HIV/AIDS and their parents/caregivers and family members to improve care and reduce the cases of the disease. It is suggested that policies of prevention and treatment should involve families, caregivers, partners, and the community.

Percepção dos profissionais de saúde e dos usuários sobre o aconselhamento no teste rápido para HIV

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar a percepção acerca do aconselhamento no contexto do teste rápido para o HIV. Método Pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa realizada no Centro de Testagem e Aconselhamento com profissionais de saúde e com usuários do Centro de Testagem e Aconselhamento. A análise seguiu os passos propostos na fenomenologia empírica de Giorgi articulando-a com a literatura. Resultados Identificaram-se cinco categorias: a experiência anterior à realização do Teste Rápido; Intencionalidade de sentimentos; Percepção do aconselhamento pelo usuário; Percepção do aconselhamento individual no pós-teste e; Percepção de profissionais sobre o aconselhamento. O aconselhamento coletivo é percebido pelos usuários como palestra sobre HIV/Aids com ênfase em consequências negativas; e o aconselhamento individual, como mais confortável e como possibilidade para exposição de dúvidas. Discussão Considera-se que, mesmo sabendo da importância do aconselhamento, este é realizado de forma empírica, reduzindo o ato ao repasse de informações com teor educativo, visando apenas à aprendizagem cognitiva como meio de disseminar o conhecimento, tentando, assim, reduzir a cadeia de transmissão da HIV/Aids.

Factors associated with acceptability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) among university students in a Peri-Urban area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Introduction

this paper examines the acceptability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) by students in a university in the DRC and identifies factors associated with uptake of HIVST.

Methods

a cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 290 students from Kikwit University. Data were summarized using proportions and predictions of acceptability of HIVST by logistic regression.

Results

the average age of students was 22.5 years, with the majority of the students being male (57%). Just over half the students sampled, reported being sexually active (51.8%). One hundred and sixty four (75%) reported that they had one sexual partner and fifty-six (25%) two or more sexual partners in the past year. Sixty-six percent had used condoms during their last sexual encounter. The acceptability of HIVST was high (81.4%) and 66.1% of students stated that they would confirm the self-test at a local health facility. The knowledge about the importance of the self-test (OR 5.02; 95% CI:1.33-18.88; p=0.017), the perception that counseling pre and post-test were important (OR 2.91; 95% CI:1.63-5.19; p < 0.0001) and the willingness to realize the test with a partner (OR 2.46; 95% CI:1.43-4.23; p=0.034) were factors associated with HIVST.

Conclusion

the acceptability of HIVST was high and therefore its implementation is feasible in our country. However, prior to implementation, additional factors such as cost; access of HIVST; false reassurance of the test; missed early infections in the window period, limited counseling and linkage to care options, need to be considered.

Why individuals fail to collect HIV-test results: an exploratory study at a testing and counseling center in Mexico City

Objective

To identify the characteristics of clients at an HIV clinic in Mexico City who fail to collect their HIV test results and to explore the reasons for non-collection.

Methods

This was an exploratory, cross-sectional study that used 2016 program data from the HIV Testing and Counseling Center in Mexico City. Clients with a negative HIV-test result in 2016 were classified as collectors or non-collectors, and their sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics were compared by multivariate logistic regression. A telephone survey was conducted with individuals who failed to return for their results.

Results

In 2016, a total of 729 individuals obtained an HIV negative test result at the Center. Of these, 40% (n = 299) failed to collect results. In multivariate analysis, having a test requested by a physician, instead of by the individual, was the main variable associated with non-collection. The main reasons reported for not collecting were: unawareness of the collection process (23.6%, n = 21), already knowing the result (22.5%, n = 20), and scheduling difficulties (13.5%, n = 12). In all, 35% of clients were reached by telephone and 50% then returned to collect results.

Conclusion

Modifications to the result-delivery system are needed to increase results collection. Improving communication with clients on the collection process and with physicians that request HIV testing could be viable strategies. Alternative ways of delivering results and using rapid HIV are other possible solutions, as long as risk reduction counseling and intervention are still effectively offered.