A full-factorial randomized controlled trial of adjunct couples HIV testing and counseling components addressing drug use and communication skills among sexual minority male couples

Background The past decade has seen increasing attention directed to the development of HIV prevention interventions for male couples, driven by epidemiological data indicating that main or primary – rather than causal – partnerships account for a substantial number of HIV infections in this population. Couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) has emerged as a standard of care in the US. This protocol describes a study that aims to evaluate the efficacy of two adjunct components to CHTC – communication training (CT) videos and a substance use module (SUM) – to reduce drug use and sexual HIV transmission risk behavior. Methods Eligible couples must include one participant who is aged 17-29, HIV-negative, and reports recent drug use. Both partners must be aged 17 or older, identify as cismale (assigned male sex at birth and currently identify as male gender), and communicate in English. Couples are randomized post-baseline to one of four conditions (CHTC as usual, CHTC plus CT video; CHTC + SUM and CHTC + CT video + SUM) in a full-factorial design. Follow up assessments are completed at 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-months post baseline. Discussion Results of this trial will enhance the application of CHTC. If found effective, adjunct components would comprise a brief and scalable drug use intervention that could be readily integrated into existing HIV testing settings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration; NCT05000866; completed August 3, 2021; https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/ Protocol version 1.0; September 1, 2021.

Adelia Risa P

The focus of the study was to identify and analyzed the policy implementation HIV testing and counseling program in Teladan health center in order to achieve the SDG’s target by using interactive issues of GeorgeCEdward III such as communication, resources, disposition, bereaucratic structure, that has a role in policy implemetation.These fourth issues was meaningful due to policy implemetation and designed by qualitative method through descriptive analysis and object was Medan Health Department, Teladan Health Center and Community Health Center In working area.The result showed that the implementation HIV testing and counseling program in Teladan Health Center for achieving the SDG’s target was qualify through not perfect yet.

Does facility readiness promote high-quality of provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling to pregnant women? A national survey for improving policy of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Tanzania

Background Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) is a recommended approach to screen for HIV to all pregnant women during antenatal care (ANC) visits, and all with HIV positive results have to be enrolled into prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program. However, little is known about the relationship between facility readiness and the uptake of PITC to pregnant women attending ANC in Tanzania. Therefore, this study assessed whether the facility readiness promotes the uptake of PITC to the pregnant women attending ANC for the purpose of improving the PMTCT interventions in Tanzania. Methods This study analyzed data for health facilities obtained from the 2014–2015 Tanzania service provision assessment survey. The Primary outcome measure was a composite variable (with score of 0–5) in which its higher scores indicates provision of high-quality of PITC. Also, facilities scored higher in the PMTCT service readiness index were considered to have high readiness to provide PMTCT services. In Poisson regression analyses, a series of models were fitted to assess whether there is an association between provision of high-quality of PITC and facility readiness. In all statistical analysis, a P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results Out of 1853 included first-visit ANC consultations, only about one-third of pregnant women received all five components required for PITC. The mean percentage of PMTCT readiness score was moderate 63.96 [61.32–66.59]%. In adjusted model, we found that facility with high readiness to provide PMTCT services was significantly associated with the provision of high-quality of PITC (model 2: [β = 0.075, P = 0.00]). Conclusion In order to increase high-quality of PITC services, efforts should be made to improve the PMTCT facility readiness by increasing availability of trained staffs, diagnostic tools, and ARTs among health facilities in Tanzania.

Male partner involvement in HIV testing and counseling among partners of pregnant women in the Delanta District, Ethiopia

Background Only screening a pregnant mother is not satisfactory to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). A male partner’s involvement in HIV testing and counseling is also critical for PMTCT, however, it is one of the biggest challenges in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess a male partner’s involvement in HIV testing and counseling and associated factors among partners of pregnant women in the Delanta District, Northern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in the Delanta District from March 15 to May 10, 2018. During the study period, 609 male partners were involved. A binary and multiple logistic regression model was used to examine the association between variables. Results Out of all, 325 (53.7% at 95% CI: 49.6 to 57.5) of male partners were involved in HIV testing and counseling in the District. Male partners who were living together, ever heard about HIV from health professionals, pregnant women’s antenatal care (ANC) visit, partner visited the PMTCT clinic with wife, and partner and wife discussion before HIV testing and counseling were factors associated with male partner involvement. Conclusion The proportion of male partner involvement was found to be low as compared to the national standards. Local health authorities and health care workers need to develop and conduct interventions that help partners with their wife to live together, improve their awareness about HIV and testing, ANC visit by pregnant women, and encourage having home discussion before HIV testing through counseling, by so doing finally raise the level of male partner involvement in HIV testing and counseling.

HIV testing and counseling: some aspects of the problem

The aim of the study was to analyze the attitude of the population to HIV testing and counseling and the frequency of testing-related counseling in a sample of the population of Kazan. Materials. An anonymous survey of various groups of the population permanently residing in the city of Kazan (n=301) was conducted using a questionnaire developed by us. The study involved 58.1% of women (175/301), 41.9% of men (126/301). Results. Most of the respondents had experience of undergoing HIV testing (95%, 286/301). Only 92 people out of 286 (32.2%) were examined on their own initiative. HIV testing was mainly carried out in the polyclinic at the place of residence/stay (66.8%, 191/286), while counseling, according to respondents, was carried out only in 16.20% of respondents (31/191). Conclusions. It is important to conduct a high-quality procedure of pre-and post-test counseling in the conditions of primary health care. It is necessary to train the medical staff of the polyclinic level in the skills of counseling on epidemiology and prevention of HIV infection.