219300 EnhanceLink: HIV testing and linkage successes

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM

Kimberly Jacob Arriola, PhD, MPH , Behavioral Science and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Anne C. Spaulding, MD, MPH , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Shalonda Freeman, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cristina A. Booker, MPH , Domestic Health Division, Abt Associates Inc., Cambridge, MA
     
Issues: The Enhancing Linkages to HIV Primary Care and Services in Jail Settings Initiative was funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program to implement innovative HIV testing and linkage to care programs. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the scope of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in correctional settings, explain the importance and challenges of HIV testing in jails, and document success at overcoming these challenges.

Description: This SPNS Initiative is a multisite demonstration project that utilizes novel methods for providing care and treatment to HIV positive individuals in jail settings who are returning to their communities. The 10 demonstration projects vary greatly in terms of the timing of testing, the context of testing, target population demographic characteristics, and method of testing.

Lessons Learned: During 3rd quarter 2009, four demonstration sites conducted HIV testing among new entrants. 17% of new entrants were offered HIV testing under this initiative, and 52% of those who were offered testing accepted it. Importantly, 100% of those who were tested received their test results, and 45% of jail entrants who were known to be HIV+ were offered the Linkage to Care program. Of those who were enrolled in the program, 58% were started on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy while in jail.

Recommendations: Next steps are to continue to collect and analyze program and longitudinal client-level data. Findings will be disseminated to jail administrators, correctional administrators, and the larger public health community to explore adaptation of model programs.

Learning Areas:
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. To describe the Enhancing Linkages to HIV Primary Care and Services in Jail Settings Initiative; 2. To assess the depth at which HIV testing services are reaching the target population under this initiative; 3. To describe the extent to which the HIV testing programs are successful at enrolling HIV-infected clients into the Linkage Program and linking clients to HIV treatment and care in jail.

Keywords: Jails and Prisons, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been responsible for developing and implementing the multi-site evaluation of the EnhanceLink Initiative.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4099.0: HIV Testing and Linkage to HIV Treatment and Care in Jail Settings