Red Flags of HIV Project: Building capacity to increase HIV testing in clinics in Latino neighborhoods

ISSUES: Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Early HIV detection failures are common among Latinos in Los Angeles County, highlighting the need for increased routine HIV testing among this group.

DESCRIPTION: Educational visits were made to small clinics in two Latino communities of Los Angeles to ascertain current HIV testing practices; increase provider knowledge of CDC's HIV testing recommendations (2006) and California's opt-out HIV testing legislation (2008); increase provider's ability to recognize early signs of HIV infection; and increase HIV testing practices. Observations of the clinic environment were taken, and a survey was administered to a primary care provider. Provider pocket guides and training materials were reviewed with extra sets distributed.

LESSONS LEARNED: Visits were conducted between March and August 2008. Surveys were completed with 53 clinics with materials left at an additional 20 clinics. HIV testing is available at most clinics (98%). Rapid HIV testing is available at 1 clinic to cash-paying patients only. HIV testing is usually conducted after self-reported high-risk sexual behavior or in the presence of STDs. Routine HIV testing is conducted with prenatal patients as standard practices of care. Most providers were unaware of CDC's testing recommendations (83%) and California's opt-out HIV testing legislation (77%).

RECOMMENDATIONS: Educating community providers in Latino neighborhoods on routine HIV testing, especially recommendations that may facilitate testing, may lead to increased awareness of the need to test routinely and subsequent increase in HIV testing. Follow-up is being conducted to assess the impact of the visits on subsequent HIV testing.