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Abstract
Predicting rapid HIV testing, belief and access among students
Verulashvili I.1
Objectives: Majority of youth is living with HIV and doesn’t know about it. The main routes of transmission are: injecting drugs (63% of HIV infections)heterosexual transmission 30%; mother-to child transmission 1.4%, and blood transfusion 1%. Country doesn’t practice sexual education programs at schools and universities. Women’s center is working on HIV/AIDS prevention program among youth which includes risk-reduction counseling, education, routine HIV testing, hot-line, face to face consultation, confidential testing at universities and home-based testing.
Methods: Confidential free rapid ANTI-HIV test in human urine in private rooms at university or Home-based test. Testing are organized after group discussions. Interviewed are students who refuse and agree to test.
Results: During one year we held 92 group discussions at 10 faculty of university. After each discussion was organized rapid test by using ANTI-HIV strip. During this period 467 students tested in confidential rooms and 97 practiced home-based HIV-testing. 487 students refused testing as they feared the results. Results of interview show that non-testers were significantly more likely than testers to agree that they have risk for HIV infection (p< 0.6), to fear test result (p<0.002), to fear to loose family, friends as a result of an HIV-positive diagnose (p<0.3). Majority of both groups agreed that they were at risk for HIV infection and they feared results of HIV testing. 98,8 % of respondent
Conclusion: It was a first experience of practice rapid Confidential ANTI-HIV test among students. High percent of students was tested for first time. Stigmatization and fear of being HIV –positive are powerful forces and present barrier to testing.
HIV education can promote testing. Strategies to increase voluntary counseling and testing uptake and provide post-test support which youth needs.
4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention
Abstract no.
CDB047
Suggested Citation
" Verulashvili I.
Predicting rapid HIV testing, belief and access among students.
:
4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention:
Abstract no.
CDB047"
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