Work

HIV Testing and HIV Service Delivery to Populations at High Risk Attending Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics in the United States, 2011–2013

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We evaluated HIV testing and service delivery in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. METHODS: We assessed HIV testing, HIV positivity, receipt of HIV test results, linkage to medical care, and referral services from 61 health department jurisdictions from 2011 to 2013. RESULTS: In 2013, 18.6% (621 010) of all CDC-funded HIV-testing events were conducted in STD clinics, and 0.8% were newly identified as HIV-positive. In addition, 27.3% of all newly identified HIV-positive persons and 30.1% of all newly identified HIV-positive men who have sex with men were identified in STD clinics. Linkage to care within any time frame was 63.8%, and linkage within 90 days was 55.3%. Although there was a decrease in first-time HIV testers in STD clinics from 2011 to 2013, identification of new positives increased. CONCLUSIONS: Although linkage to care and referral to partner services could be improved, STD clinics appear successful at serving populations disproportionately affected by HIV. These clinics may reach persons who may not otherwise seek HIV testing or medical services and provide an avenue for service provision to these populations.

Source: American Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2015.302778

Authors: Puja Seth, Guoshen Wang, Erin Sizemore, Matthew Hogben

Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Language: English

Topic: HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention