Eisenberg-Nicolaysen ME; National HIV Prevention Conference (2003 : Atlanta, Ga.).
Abstr Book 2003 Natl HIV Prev Conf July 27 30 2003 Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel Atlanta Ga Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 Atlanta Ga. 2003; abstract no. T3-G0304.
Centers for Disease Control, Raleigh, NC
ISSUE: Collaboration between the North Carolina Syphilis Elimination Project (NCSEP) and the Non-Traditional Counseling, Testing and Referral Sites (NTS) project has resulted in an increase in syphilis screening outside of traditional settings. Given the similarities in risk behaviors and the increased risk of HIV infection associated with syphilis, this collaboration has also enhanced the state's HIV prevention efforts.SETTING: Community involvement is an integral part of both NCSEP and NTS programs. Community-based syphilis and HIV counseling and testing, outreach and referral activities occur in public housing developments, homeless shelters, bars, correctional facilities, barbershops and substance abuse centers during non-traditional (evening and weekend) hours. Additional health services, such as STD examinations and treatment, and blood pressure, TB and pregnancy screenings, are also offered on a mobile unit in targeted "high-risk" communities. NTS staff participates in the SEP community task force and assists with Intensive Community Education Efforts (ICEE). These programs have a unique challenge in reaching communities of high HIV/ STD incidence or high-risk behaviors, especially among injecting drug users, men who have sex with men, low income African American and Hispanic/Latina women and youth.PROJECT: In 2002, the Branch funded seven CBOs and three county health departments to conduct syphilis and HIV counseling and testing for the NTS project, and six county health departments to eliminate syphilis for NCSEP (five of these counties were designated syphilis high morbidity areas (HMAs). NTS operated programs in four of these five HMA counties. In light of the syphilis problem in North Carolina, the Branch felt that mandating syphilis testing in the NTS program was yet another avenue to eliminating syphilis. In this participatory workshop, we will discuss the following project activities: 1) conducting syphilis and HIV counseling and testing in non-traditional venues and 2) fostering collaboration among NTS and SEP project staff, and other community-based organizations.RESULTS: Syphilis testing is offered at all NTS locations. In 2002, the NTS program tested 7,521 individuals for HIV of which 93 or 1.2% were seropositive. Syphilis testing in the NTS program increased by 300% from 1,857 tests in 1999 to 7,277 tests in 2002. This resulted in an increased syphilis seropositivity rate from 1.3% in 1999 to 1.7% in 2002. Through ICEEs, 411 community members were tested of which 1.7% were seropositive. 100,474 individuals were tested for HIV in traditional public health settings of which less than 1% were seropositive.LESSONS LEARNED: HIV testing in the NTS program continues to identify a greater proportion of positives than testing in traditional public health settings. Collaboration between NTS, SEP and other community-based organizations proves successful as it provides visible alternative services in many high-risk communities. It provides a mechanism for hard to reach/high-risk individuals to obtain HIV/STD services outside the traditional public health setting. Screening in non-traditional settings is a productive means of identifying syphilis and HIV prevalence in certain populations, and presents an opportunity for the collection of valuable risk behavior data.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- African Americans
- Cooperative Behavior
- Counseling
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Education
- Humans
- Male
- Mass Screening
- North Carolina
- Pregnancy
- Prevalence
- Public Health
- Syphilis
Other ID:
UI: 102262091
From Meeting Abstracts