I t has been almost 20 years since the first report about a disease that we now call AIDS (acquired immu-nodeficiency syndrome) was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Shortly thereafter, se-rological testing to detect evidence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was developed, and guidelines were published for HIV counseling and testing. Today, the majority...

BACKGROUND Testing pregnant women for HIV at the time of labor and delivery is the last opportunity for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) measures, particularly in settings where women do not receive adequate antenatal care. However, HIV testing and counseling of pregnant women in labor is a challenge, especially in resource-constrained settings. In India, many rural women ...

People who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but unaware of their status can unknowingly spread the virus to other people and delay their own life-saving treatment. In July 2010, the U.S. government released its revised strategy for dealing with the continued infection of Americans by HIV and resulting cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).1 This strategy has...

BACKGROUND HIV testing is a key component of prevention and an entry point into HIV/AIDS treatment and care however, coverage and access to testing remains low in Uganda. Home-Based HIV Counseling and Testing (HBHCT) has potential to increase access and early identification of unknown HIV/AIDS disease. This study investigated the level of acceptance of Home-Based HIV Counseling and Testing (HBH...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the cost and health outcomes associated with a new HIV testing strategy that utilizes routine-based clinical reminders. METHODS We conducted an economic analysis of 1) traditional pretest/post-test counseling; 2) counseling and a new clinical reminders system; and 3) only clinical reminder in the veterans' health care system. A payer-perspective decision model was conduc...

BACKGROUND In the US, an unacceptably high percentage of pregnant women do not undergo prenatal HIV testing. Previous studies have found increased uptake of prenatal HIV testing with abbreviated pre-test counseling, however little is known about patient decision making, testing satisfaction and knowledge in this setting. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS A randomized-controlled, non-inferiority trial was ...

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...

allows individuals to learn their HIV status through preand post-test counseling and an HIV test. VCT is client-initiated, as opposed to provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC) when health care providers initiate discussion of HIV testing with clients who are seeking health care for other reasons. VCT can be provided through stand-alone clinics or offered through community-based approa...

A Recent Profile of HIV-Positive Patients Attending an Integrated Testing and Counseling Centre (ICTC) at a Tertiary Care Center in Bangalore, India

background: acquired immunodeficiency may impose considerable consequences on patients’ family behaviors toward them. the objective of the present study was to investigate whether a counseling program atbehavioralcounselingcenter in the city ofshiraz,iran could change the attitude, knowledge and behavior of patients' family members.   methods: 125 hiv/aids patients’ family members were intervie...