1. Universal Screening for HIV and Hepatitis C Infection: A Community-Based Pilot Project.
- Author
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Kempf MC, Ott C, Wise JM, Footman AP, Araya BY, Hardy CM, Walker C, Latham C, Stockett R, Daniels G, Alexander M, and Lanzi RG
- Subjects
- Adult, Black or African American, Alabama, Community Health Services organization & administration, Community Participation, Culturally Competent Care methods, Culturally Competent Care organization & administration, Delivery of Health Care, Integrated organization & administration, Feasibility Studies, Female, Focus Groups, HIV isolation & purification, HIV Infections virology, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Health Status Disparities, Healthcare Disparities, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C virology, Humans, Male, Mass Screening organization & administration, Middle Aged, Mississippi, Pilot Projects, Social Stigma, Young Adult, Community Health Services methods, Delivery of Health Care, Integrated methods, HIV Infections diagnosis, Hepatitis C diagnosis, Mass Screening methods
- Abstract
Introduction: Black men in the Deep South have been disproportionally affected by high HIV and hepatitis C virus infection rates. Conventional clinic-based screening approaches have had limited success in reaching those with undiagnosed HIV or hepatitis C virus infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and best practices of an integrated HIV and hepatitis C virus community-based health screening approach., Methods: The study used a mixed methods approach: focus group discussion, individual interviews, and surveys that assessed perceptions, perspectives, and HIV and hepatitis C virus awareness among six communities across Alabama and Mississippi. Data were collected and analyzed in 2014-2017., Results: Although HIV and hepatitis C virus knowledge was limited among community members surveyed, the results of this study suggest that (1) using an integrated, community-based HIV and hepatitis C virus testing approach is acceptable and feasible; (2) formation of a community advisory board is a key element of successful community mobilization; (3) education and training of community members on disease-specific topics and overcoming stigma are essential; and (4) focus on and inclusion of young community members will be critical for the sustainability of screening efforts., Conclusions: Including and engaging communities at risk for HIV and hepatitis C virus infection in prevention research is a promising strategy to overcome existing barriers of stigma and discrimination. Integration of HIV and hepatitis C virus testing in universal health screening efforts utilizing a Community Health Advisors model encourages unbiased communication with a focus on overall community health. Community health advisors are recognized as important agents in this effort., Supplement Information: This article is part of a supplement entitled African American Men's Health: Research, Practice, and Policy Implications, which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2018
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