AEGiS-14IAC: Vietnam's first and only anonymous HIV test site: A success at attracting high risk individuals who have not been previously tested.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Vietnam's first and only anonymous HIV test site: A success at attracting high risk individuals who have not been previously tested.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. LbPeD9045)

Thinh T, Bain D, Giang L, Mandel J, Lindan C
Ho Chi Minh City AIDS Committee, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Vietnam's first and only anonymous HIV test site (ATS), opened in Ho Chi Minh City in November, 2001. Our objective was to attract at-risk individuals who might otherwise not seek testing for fear that their HIV sero- or risk status would be reported and become community knowledge. To date, HIV surveillance of IDU and CSW has been largely limited to detainees at rehabilitation centers. Young drug users, their sex partners, CSW, their clients/partners, MSM, and others at risk, may not present for HIV testing or access prevention or treatment services because of concern regarding reporting and detention. We present data on the acceptance and feasibility of the first ATS in Vietnam.

METHODS: HIV counseling and testing services are free and anonymous. Counselors and staff receive ongoing training, clinical oversight and supervision. Limited data are tabulated on clients' gender, risk behavior, and reasons for accessing the site. Blood HIV+ by EIA is confirmed using a second EIA & a rapid test. Of 500 clients seen by May 31, we present data on the first 400.

RESULTS: 23% of clients were HIV+. 69% of clients had never been HIV tested before; of these, 35 (17%) were HIV+. Reported risk behaviors included: drug injection (22%); sex work (18% of women); sexual partner of CSW (46% of men); unprotected heterosexual sex (51%); STD (9%); MSM (3%); needle stick accident (8%). The majority of clients (72%) were male; 77% were between the ages of 20-39. 45% of clients heard about the ATS through the media; 21% were referred by health service agencies.

CONCLUSION: The ATS serves a young and diverse population that would otherwise not have been tested. The number of clients requesting services and the high HIV prevalence to date demonstrates the need for counseling and testing services that guarantee anonymity and provide risk reduction education, referral and support services. Anonymous testing is both feasible and acceptable in Vietnam and needs to be expanded.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Risk-Taking, Prostitution, Sexual Partners, HIV Seropositivity, Safe Sex, Heterosexuality, Counseling, Prevalence, Vietnam, Human, Female, Male

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