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Document Details : Title: Voluntary outreach counselling and testing for HIV and STI among men who have sex with men in Antwerp, Belgium Author(s): PLATTEAU T, WOUTERS K, APERS L, AVONTS D, NÖSTLINGER C, SERGEANT M, FLORENCE E Journal: Acta Clinica Belgica Volume: 67 Issue: 3 Date: 2012 Pages: 172-176 DOI: 10.2143/ACB.67.3.1003057 Abstract : Background: High risk settings for transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) offer an opportunity for screening of difficult to reach risk groups. Methods: Free, anonymous counselling and testing for HIV, syphilis, Chlamydia and hepatitis B/C were offered to visitors in two selected gay venues in Antwerp, by a multidisciplinary team. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire. The STI-test results were communicated by cell phone using standardised text messages. Results: In total, 137 MSM were tested. Facilitators of risky sexual behaviour (alcohol and drug use) were reported by 34 and 21%, respectively. Four men (3%) were newly diagnosed with HIV; 25 men (18%) had an active, transmittable STI. Infected MSM were significantly less often registered with a fixed general practitioner (GP). Conclusions: Outreach testing in gay venues is a suitable method to detect MSM at risk for HIV/STI. Although the outreach approach is very labour intensive, it shows a high yield of new STI-diagnoses that are not detected in the regular health system. |
