Collaborating with Community Based Organizations to Provide HIV/STI Outreach Testing

Mobile health clinics have been used to provide HIV antibody screening, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings, and a variety of other services. During six months in 2011, a mid-western university collaborated with a community based organization (CBO) and a local health department to provide free, rapid HIV antibody and STI (Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis) screenings. Utilizing a mobile health clinic, eight clinics provided more than 450 community members access to screening and/or education in underserved areas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "despite prevention efforts, some groups of people are affected by HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB more than other groups of people. The occurrence of these diseases at greater levels among certain population groups more than among others is often referred to as a health disparity." Thus, innovative prevention efforts are needed to reach these populations. Healthy People 2020 suggests that "improving access to quality health care for populations disproportionately affected by HIV, such as persons of color and gay and bisexual men, is a fundamental public health strategy for HIV prevention." Through collaboration and utilization of mobile health clinics, there is potential to improve access to those who might not otherwise receive prevention and care. As a method of increasing access to health care and prevention, while reducing cost, mobile clinics have been discussed in the literature. The collaborative efforts of these three groups could potentially be a model used in other communities to improve health care access and delivery.