AEGiS-14IAC: Recent study about STD and HIV counselling in german health care centres.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Recent study about STD and HIV counselling in german health care centres.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11421)

Steffan E, Rademacher M
SPI-Forschung gGmbH, Berlin, Germany

BACKGROUND: A new law about infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS has been implemented in Germany from January 1st, 2001. This new law will influence the profile and working methods of counselling facilities in the German Public Health Care Service. In a nation-wide survey of 206 Public Health Care Centres a new data base has been collected to evaluate STD/AIDS prevention measures and their implementation by Public Health Care Centres. This should form the basis for further measures according to the new law including special training programs for the staff.

METHODS: The quantitative survey of 206 Public Health Care Centres (self-administered questionnaire) accompanied by qualitative face-to-face interviews in selected regions, is reflecting the variety and range of already existing services in Germany. In addition demand for qualification in this field has been traced and qualification measures have been tested partially.

RESULTS: There is still a considerable difference between HIV- and STD-counselling in Germany. HIV-counselling, free of charge and anonymous, is highly accepted by the general public while STD-counselling focuses in general on special target groups, mainly prostitutes. The demand for free counselling on STDs is rising besides the already well known target groups because of poverty or lack of health insurance. The integration of HIV/AIDS into the STD field did not always improve the services, being only of formal character in some health care facilities.

CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results show differences in STD- and HIV-counselling that are counter-productive for prevention. The new law offers an opportunity to improve STD/AIDS-counselling policy according to the needs of the general public and special target groups who have been difficult to contact so far.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Counseling, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Prostitution, Health Services Needs and Demand, Community Health Services, Questionnaires, GermanyKWDaegis,hivinfections,counseling,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivseropositivity,prostitution,healthservicesneedsanddemand,communityhealthservices,questionnaires,germany

020707
E11421

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.