College
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
A Novel Approach to HIV Testing: Group Harm Reduction and Testing for High Risk Women in NJ
Keywords
HIV Testing, Harm Reduction, Harm Reduction Counseling, Health Equity
Date of Presentation
5-2-2024 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Outreach programs have been implemented aimed at providing healthcare to minority populations and those considered high-risk for acquiring HIV. Variables such as these cause hesitance in community members, preventing HIV screenings and adherence to follow-ups. This study provides and evaluates a new approach: group HIV testing. Data was collected from 6/2/2023 to 4/19/2024 by surveying participants at the end of the interaction. 87.5% of participants rated their care at the mobile clinic as ‘Excellent’, 8% as ‘Very Good’, and 4.5% as ‘Good’. 95.6% of participants ranked Group Harm Reduction Counseling as ‘Definitely’ helpful. 84.4% of participants did not find that group harm reduction counseling made them feel like they had less privacy. Our research showed that the majority of participants found group harm-reduction counseling beneficial and said it helped decrease anxiety associated with testing. While some patients still find one-on-one testing to be more comfortable, finding ways to incorporate and/or offer different methods of harm reduction counseling and HIV testing may be beneficial for the retention of care, HIV education, and connecting individuals with HIV to healthcare.
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Family Medicine | Immune System Diseases | Infectious Disease | Medicine and Health Sciences | Preventive Medicine | Primary Care | Public Health Education and Promotion | Virus Diseases | Women's Health
DOI
10.31986/issn.2689-0690_rdw.stratford_research_day.212_2024
A Novel Approach to HIV Testing: Group Harm Reduction and Testing for High Risk Women in NJ
Outreach programs have been implemented aimed at providing healthcare to minority populations and those considered high-risk for acquiring HIV. Variables such as these cause hesitance in community members, preventing HIV screenings and adherence to follow-ups. This study provides and evaluates a new approach: group HIV testing. Data was collected from 6/2/2023 to 4/19/2024 by surveying participants at the end of the interaction. 87.5% of participants rated their care at the mobile clinic as ‘Excellent’, 8% as ‘Very Good’, and 4.5% as ‘Good’. 95.6% of participants ranked Group Harm Reduction Counseling as ‘Definitely’ helpful. 84.4% of participants did not find that group harm reduction counseling made them feel like they had less privacy. Our research showed that the majority of participants found group harm-reduction counseling beneficial and said it helped decrease anxiety associated with testing. While some patients still find one-on-one testing to be more comfortable, finding ways to incorporate and/or offer different methods of harm reduction counseling and HIV testing may be beneficial for the retention of care, HIV education, and connecting individuals with HIV to healthcare.
