AEGiS-07IAC: Free and anonymous HIV testing and counselling sites in France: assessing accomplishment of objectives.

7th International AIDS Conference

Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

Free and anonymous HIV testing and counselling sites in France: assessing accomplishment of objectives.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:460 (abstract no. W.D.4289)
Serfaty A, Micouraud M, Perrault M, Patris C, Debeaupuis J; AIDS Division, Ministry of Health, Paris

OBJECTIVE: To identify discrepencies between objectives stated in the legal documents related to the implementation and the functionning of the HIV testing and counseling sites (CDAG) and attempted objectives. MATERIAL &

METHOD: Units of observation and analysis are the 119 sites implemented in 1988 & 1989 under the approval of the Departmental Prefect. A questionnaire composed of open-ended questions is administered to each site through October to December 1990. Independent variables are the following: site location, site visibility (local advertising, signposting), configuration of the welcome and the waiting room, opening hours, human ressources, providers of services (welcome, precounseling, postcounseling), prevention activities in the sites. The dependent variable is the level of clients attendance. This part concernes the first stage of the process evaluation of the HIV testing sites. The second stage is concerned in an analysis of health provider attitudes and practices related to HIV testing, and clients satisfaction related to preventive issues (behavior change, early access to care for people with HIV). Nonparticipant observation and interview guide will be utilized.

RESULTS: 119 HIV testing sites were implemented in 1988 & 89 in the 100 departments, administrative regions in France: 68% (81/119) are located in hospitals, 32% in STD clinics. In 1989, 61.3% (38,151/63,000) of the clients received services from sites in STD clinics, 38.7% from hospitals. The level of clients attendance in a site per week increased from 8.3 in 1988 to 10.2 in 1989. 101 sites reported the evaluation questionnaire. The first findings reveal that: 48 sites posted a signing (47.5%), 52 sites do not have welcome place, 78 sites (77.2%) do not have their own waiting room. Precounseling is provided only by physician in 78 sites (77.2%): legal documents state 100%. Postcounseling is provided by physicians in 91% of the sites for negative results, 98% for positive results.

CONCLUSION: The findings will highlight discrepencies and also weaknesses related to the functioning in these sites. They provide useful data to adjust accessibility of the free and anonymous HIV testing and to assess and respond to the needs of the health workers providing preventive services.

Keywords: AEGIS, Counseling, HIV, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Goals, HIV-1, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Seroprevalence, Health Services Needs and Demand, HIV Antibodies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV Seronegativity, Program Evaluation, Ambulatory Care Facilities, Evaluation Studies, France, Human, immunology, ICA7
910616
WD4289