Evaluatiing the Effects of HIV Self-testing used Professional Rapid Test Kits among MSM in Some Areas of China.

With rapid expanding of HIV self-testing (HIVST) among unprofessional people has many unknown hidden dangers. This research for the first to survey the feasibility of urine, oral mucosal transudate (OMT) and finger blood rapid HIV testing kits were used for HIVST by non-professionals MSM in China. Total 274 valid questionnaires were received from 313 MSM participants, including 263 completed urine HIVST, 61 completed OMT HIVST and 17 completed blood HIVST. The average age of participants was under 30, about 80% were unmarried, more than 80% with an education level above Grade 9 but more than 50% people had never heard of the rapid HIV test. There were significant differences in the key information understanding accuracy between HIVST. The accuracy rates were 18.0–80.6%. When the HIVST result was positive, more than 80% chose to seek confirmation. When the test was negative, 60.5% (159/263) participants of urine self-test and 32.8% (20/61) of OMT self-test chose regular retesting. When the test was ineffective, more than 80% chose to retest. In addition, 54.1% of the 146 voluntary participants to accept blood HIVST, followed by 15.8% accept blood and urine HIVST and 14.4% accept only urine HIVST. The main reason for choosing blood HIVST was "accuracy", while the main reason for choosing urine HIVST was "convenience". This findings lays a scientific theoretical basis for further carring out HIVST in China.

A Pilot Outreach HIV Testing Project Among Homeless Adults

Background: The Memphis metropolitan statistical area (MSA) represents a Deep Southern U.S. city disproportionally affected by the ongoing transmission of new HIV cases as well as those diagnosed in late-stage disease. This region is a subset of nine states, including Memphis, Tennessee (project site), driving the epidemic in the United States. Memphis ranks 4th among all U.S. MSAs for new HIV infections and has been identified in the CDC's Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative as a high HIV burden geographic focus area. The Memphis Ryan White Part A Program conducted a pilot project among adults seeking services in Memphis emergency and transitional housing shelters to offer on-site, rapid HIV testing. In this paper we describe the results from this aforementioned pilot study, including the rate of HIV test acceptance and potential factors associated with a history of HIV testing in Memphis.Methods: Community-engaged research approaches were employed via a partnership between the local health department, a federally qualified faith-based health center, and an academic university. An interviewer-administered survey to measure potential factors associated with HIV testing history and voluntary HIV testing services were offered to adults living in transitional housing establishments. Bivariate chi-square analyses were performed to determine the association between predisposing, enabling, and need variables with HIV testing history in the past 12 months.Results: Survey respondents (n = 109) were mostly cisgender male (n = 96; 88.1%), African American (n = 79; 72.5%) and reported engaging in condomless sex in the past 12 months (n = 55; 50.5%). Acceptability and uptake of HIV testing was high (n = 97; 89.0%).Conclusions: Implementing rapid HIV testing programs outside of traditional health care settings is a strategy that can be used to engage high-risk individuals and those unaware of their HIV status to get tested. To our knowledge, this study represents the first that documents HIV testing acceptance rates offered outside of traditional health care settings for homeless and transitionally housed adults in a Deep Southern state.

Economic evaluation of HIV testing options for low-prevalence high-income countries: a systematic review

Introduction This study reviewed the economic evidence of rapid HIV testing versus conventional HIV testing in low-prevalence high-income countries; evaluated the methodological quality of existing economic evaluations of HIV testing studies; and made recommendations on future economic evaluation directions of HIV testing approaches. Methods A systematic search of selected databases for relevant English language studies published between Jan 1, 2001, and Jan 30, 2019, was conducted. The methodological design quality was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) and the Drummond tool. We reported the systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. Results Five economic evaluations met the eligibility criteria but varied in comparators, evaluation type, perspective, and design. The methodologic quality of the included studies ranged from medium to high. We found evidence to support the cost-effectiveness of rapid HIV testing approaches in low-prevalence high-income countries. Rapid HIV testing was associated with cost per adjusted life year (QALY), ranging from $42,768 to $90,498. Additionally, regardless of HIV prevalence, rapid HIV testing approaches were the most cost-effective option. Conclusions There is evidence for the cost-effectiveness of rapid HIV testing, including the use of saliva-based testing compared to usual care or hospital-based serum testing. Further studies are needed to draw evidence on the relative cost-effectiveness of the distinct options and contexts of rapid HIV testing.

HIV testing behaviors and willingness to receive oral rapid HIV testing among dental patients in Xi’an, China

Introduction HIV testing is an important strategy for controlling and ultimately ending the global pandemic. Oral rapid HIV testing (ORHT) is an evidence-based strategy and the evidence-based shows is favored over traditional blood tests in many key populations. The dental setting has been found to be a trusted, convenient, and yet untapped venue to conduct ORHT. This study assessed the HIV testing behaviors and willingness to receive ORHT among dental patients in Xi’an, China. Methods A cross-sectional survey of dental patients from Xi’an was conducted from August to September 2017. Dental patients were recruited using a stratified cluster sampling. A 44-item survey was used to measure HIV/AIDS knowledge, HIV testing behaviors, and willingness to receive ORHT. Results Nine hundred and nine dental patients completed the survey with a mean HIV/AIDS knowledge score of 10.7/15 (SD 2.8). Eighty-four participants (9.2%) had previously received an HIV test. Participants would have a high rate of HIV testing if they had higher monthly income (OR = 1.982, 95% CI: 1.251–3.140) and a higher HIV/AIDS knowledge score (OR = 1.137, 95% CI: 1.032–1.252). Five hundred and eighty-two participants (64.0%) were willing to receive ORHT before a dental treatment, 198 (21.8%) were not sure, and 129 (14.2%) were unwilling. Logistic regression showed that age (OR = 0.970, 95% CI: 0.959–0.982), HIV/AIDS knowledge score (OR = 1.087, 95% CI: 1.031–1.145), previous HIV test (OR = 2.057, 95% CI: 1.136–3.723), having advanced HIV testing knowledge (OR = 1.570, 95% CI: 1.158–2.128), and having advanced ORHT knowledge (OR = 2.074, 95%: CI 1.469–2.928) were the factors affecting the willingness to receive ORHT. Conclusions The majority of dental patients had not previously received an HIV test, although many were receptive to being tested in the dental setting. The dental setting as a venue to screen people for HIV needs further exploration, particularly because many people do not associate dentistry with chairside screenings. Increasing awareness of ORHT and reducing testing price can further improve the patient’s willingness to receive ORHT.

Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV in the dental setting: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of oral health care workers in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal

Oral health care workers are frequently at the forefront in recognizing oral manifestations of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and can therefore play a key role in screening and early detection of HIV in dental patients. This study assessed oral health care workers’ knowledge, attitudes and possible practices in Voluntary Counselling and rapid HIV testing (VCT) in the dental workplace in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal so as to determine their understanding and support for these services. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. A total of 120 questionnaires were distributed to oral health workers located in private and public dental settings in eThekwini district. One hundred (n=100) completed questionnaires were retrieved, yielding a response rate of 83%. The majority of participants (82%) reported that HIV testing and counselling did not occur in their workplace. Participants (87%) also indicated to have not been trained to perform HIV testing. Sixty-six participants (66%) reported willingness to implement HIV testing in their respective dental workplace. Less than half of the study population (41%) were “unsure” regarding the accuracy of rapid HIV testing. Participants reported inadequate knowledge and practice of VCT. Participants had positive attitudes towards VCT implementation in the dental setting, provided that adequate training and support was available from the Kwa-Zulu-Natal Department of Health. Rapid HIV testing, dental workplace, oral health care workers.

Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV in the dental setting: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of oral health care workers in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal

Oral health care workers are frequently at the forefront in recognizing oral manifestations of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and can therefore play a key role in screening and early detection of HIV in dental patients. This study assessed oral health care workers’ knowledge, attitudes and possible practices in Voluntary Counselling and rapid HIV testing (VCT) in the dental workplace in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal so as to determine their understanding and support for these services. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. A total of 120 questionnaires were distributed to oral health workers located in private and public dental settings in eThekwini district. One hundred (n=100) completed questionnaires were retrieved, yielding a response rate of 83%. The majority of participants (82%) reported that HIV testing and counselling did not occur in their workplace. Participants (87%) also indicated to have not been trained to perform HIV testing. Sixty-six participants (66%) reported willingness to implement HIV testing in their respective dental workplace. Less than half of the study population (41%) were “unsure” regarding the accuracy of rapid HIV testing. Participants reported inadequate knowledge and practice of VCT. Participants had positive attitudes towards VCT implementation in the dental setting, provided that adequate training and support was available from the Kwa-Zulu-Natal Department of Health. Rapid HIV testing, dental workplace, oral health care workers.

The Role of Health Education Specialists in Conducting Rapid HIV Testing

There are over one million people living with HIV in the United States; an estimated 16% are unaware of their status. More innovative testing strategies are needed, as evidence suggests that persons most at risk for HIV, or who may present with early infections, are not being reached. Expanding the role of health education specialists can make HIV testing routine and more accessible, and help achieve the national goals of decreasing HIV infection and increasing knowledge of HIV status. This paper focuses on the role of Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES)/Master CHES as being professionally prepared to conduct HIV testing.