User-friendly HIV Testing and Counseling Services

Cohort of Individuals at Risk of HIV Infection Recruited in User-friendly HIV Testing and Counseling Services in Thailand Provinces

Multicenter cohort study of individuals reporting behavioral risks of HIV acquisition, recruited among those presenting for testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Overarching goal: to study factors associated with uptake of HIV prevention and (re)testing services in medium-sized cities in Thailand.

Primary objective: To estimate the incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (syphilis, chronic hepatitis B and C) among individuals presenting for retesting.

Secondary objectives:

• To evaluate the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis
• To assess retention in the study
• To evaluate client HIV knowledge
• To describe HIV prevalence and characteristics of individuals newly diagnosed with HIV
• To describe characteristics of individuals at risk of HIV infection
• To assess the quality of the testing and referral services.

Testing and counseling for HIV, syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections is provided to consenting individuals.

Components: interactive counseling program, self sampling (finger prick) under supervision, questionnaire (on a tablet computer) to assess risks of HIV acquisition, understanding of HIV transmission routes and pre-exposure prophylaxis, willingness to take pre-exposure prophylaxis if at risk of HIV, and satisfaction with regard to services provided.

Referral to appropriate care facility of participants diagnosed with infection. HIV negative participants with significant risk of HIV are advised to come back for HIV retesting within 3 to 6 months and informed about pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 15 years or more
• Willing to be tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
• Able to understand the study and its procedures

Exclusion Criteria: None