243794 How do HIV-service agencies themselves conceptualize an ideal system of HIV prevention, care and treatment?

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Nidhi Khosla, MPH , Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Jill A. Marsteller, PhD , Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Issues

In order to improve the system of HIV prevention, care and treatment, HIV service agencies recommend greater inter-agency collaboration and also some unexpected solutions.

Description

HIV-service agencies in Baltimore, Maryland were purposively selected and nineteen key informants interviewed in 2010 about inter-agency collaboration. They were also asked to describe an ideal system of HIV prevention, care and treatment in Baltimore. A thematic analysis was conducted.

Lessons learned

Most agencies felt that Baltimore had a well-functioning HIV-services system. They recommended 1) better information sharing about other agencies' work and improved inter-agency communication 2) removing a sense of competitiveness between agencies 3) service provisioning in communities that lack services 4) outreach prevention services for high school students and high-risk negatives such as homeless people 5) Having one-stop shops/resource centers for providing comprehensive services for testing, care, treatment and retention

Other suggestions were 1) giving block grants to big providers instead of multiple smaller grants 2) provide outreach through non-profit agencies than medical agencies 3) improve quality of schools and change perceptions about the police to create safety and trust in the minds of citizens and thereby create an atmosphere conducive to collaboration 4) allow agencies to develop their own memorandum of understanding (MOU) format 5) have an online hub for data-sharing

Recommendations

In addition to addressing operational issues such as improving inter-agency communication and collaboration, the HIV services system could be improved through addressing deeper underlying issues such as perceptions of the role of police and schools in the community.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Program planning
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1.Identify solutions for improving HIV-services at a systemic level 2.Discuss how underlying causes such as community safety and perceptions towards police may ultimately affect collaboration and trust among agencies

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Community Health Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: This presentation is based on the primary data that I collected for my dissertation. Further, I am well-informed of issues in HIV/AIDS program planning as I have worked internationally on sexual and reproductive health programs including HIV/AIDS programs for more than five years.
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.

See more of: HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies
See more of: HIV/AIDS