AEGiS-10IAC: Experience in a counselling unit for HIV-high risk individuals.

10th International AIDS Conference


Yokohama, Japan — Aug 7-12, 1994

Print this Article


Experience in a counselling unit for HIV-high risk individuals.

Int Conf AIDS 1994 Aug 7-12; 10:389 (abstract no. PD0738)
Polo R, Capa A, Martin ML, Mufioz M, Verdejo J, Gonzales Lahos JM; CIC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.

OBJECTIVES. To evaluate the efficacy of a counselling unit for individuals who ask for HIV transmission routes, preventive methods, and social behavior.

METHODS: One medical doctor, a nurse and a social worker are involved in the demands for HIV counselling in a reference center for AIDS in Madrid. Telephone information and the HIV test was offers in those who demands its.

RESULTS: Since October 1991 to December 1993, 981 interviews has been done in 900 individuals referred to the HIV counselling unit. Classical high-risk practices for HIV infection were identified in 727 subjects: 33.85% referred history of intravenous drug addiction, 6.45% were homo/bisexual men, 58.06% were heterosexual partners of HIV-infected individuals, and 1.64% unknown. A total of 422 individuals (58.04%) from high-risk groups were HIV positive, 244 were HIV negative (33.56%), and the test was not performed in 61 (8.39%) individuals. Questions about HIV infection and transmission routes were attended by telephone in 617 times. CONCLUSION. This experience shows that the HIV counselling unit may be very usefull to provide complete medical assistance in AIDS units. An important effect is the psychological benefit and a best quality of life reported by some patients using this service.

Keywords: AEGIS, Counseling, Bisexuality, HIV Seropositivity, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Heterosexuality, Telephone, Interviews, Substance-Related Disorders, Human, Male, ICA10KWDaegis,counseling,bisexuality,hivseropositivity,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,heterosexuality,telephone,interviews,substance-relateddisorders,human,male,ica10
940807
PD0738

Copyright © 1994 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.