BACKGROUND New rapid HIV antibody tests have allowed provision of results and result-specific counseling on the day on initial visit, and have the potential to increase the efficiency of HIV counseling and testing. METHODS To evaluate the use of rapid testing with same-day results in public clinics, the Single Use Diagnostic System HIV-1 rapid assay was used for a 3-month period at an anonymo...

BACKGROUND Voluntary HIV testing sites provide an opportunity to identify and counsel persons with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, thereby enhancing the prevention of HSV-2 and HIV infections. GOAL AND STUDY DESIGN: Using serologic specimens left over from HIV testing, we measured HSV-2 prevalence and incidence among persons who had repeatedly tested for HIV at anonymous counseli...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and testing has an effect on reducing subsequent risk behaviors in those tested, to evaluate stability in condom use over time, and to determine whether self-reported frequency of condom use relates to the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). DESIGN Cohort study with 2-year follow-up. SETTING An urban...

At present, HIV testing and counselling during pregnancy represent the key entry point for women to learn their serostatus and for them to access, if they are HIV-positive, specific interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, the provision and uptake of testing and counselling services are inadequate, and many pregnant women in countries most affected by the HIV...

The Testing and Counseling Centers are important sources of epidemiological information. This study describes a research conducted with the users of the Testing and Counseling Center of Rio Grande-RS submitted to anti-HIV test during the period 2001-2004. Demographic and behavioral factors of individuals attended in the service were analyzed using the database SISCTA-2002/RG. HIV-1 seropositivi...

Incentives to provide universal access to antiretroviral therapy in order to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic also encouraged the diversification of HIV testing strategies, as demonstrated by the simultaneous existence of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and Provider-Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling (PITC). This paper analyzes the concepts, principles and implementation of the VCT and PI...

HIV, most of them during their mother’s pregnancy, childbirth, or through breastfeeding. The Population Council’s Horizons program has tested the introduction of infant feeding counseling to inform women about ways to reduce the risk of HIV transmission during breastfeeding and to support them in their infant feeding choices. The program is being tested at antenatal care clinics in Ndola, Zambi...

OBJECTIVE To estimate HIV prevalence and identify high-risk sexual behavior for infection in pregnant women who were given prenatal assistance. METHODS Cross-sectional study based on attendance records of 8,002 pregnant women (25% of all municipalities) who lived in 27 municipalities in Southern Brazil in 2003 and had anti-HIV tests done in a testing and counseling center that performed prena...

OBJECTIVES Jail incarceration represents an opportunity to deliver HIV counseling and testing (C&T) services to persons at increased risk of infection. However, jails can be chaotic with rapid turnover of detainees. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of comparing the effect of different approaches to HIV C&T in jail on subsequent HIV risk behaviors among persons testing H...

We developed a Web-based application delivered on PDAs (Colecta-PALM in Peru, Pambazuko-PALM in Kenya), to collect data from HIV patients and to facilitate HIV provider training. Colecta-PALM provides tailored feedback (behavioral messaging) based on risk assessment responses for HIV patients. Pambazuko-PALM collects patient risk assessment data, and delivers counseling protocol training and ev...