Online Program

291527
Integrating HIV testing with immigrant health and welfare programs in oakland, CA: Best practice in reaching an underground population


Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Ifeoma Udoh, PhD, Programs and Research, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, Oakland, CA
Christina Grijalva, La Clinica de la Raza, Oakland, CA
Meredith Minkler, DrPH, MPH, Department of Community Health Sciences, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA
Sandra McCoy, PhD, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Kim Barstow, MPH, Oakland, CA
Catalina Palacios, La Clinica de la Raza, Oakland
Bacillio Villa, Street Level Health Project, Oakland
Scott Caroll, MPH, La Clinica de la Raza, Oakland
Megan Dunbar, DrPH MPH, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, Oakland, CA
Issues Nearly 20% of all Latinos newly diagnosed with HIV infection in Oakland, California are concurrently diagnosed with AIDS. Structural barriers related to immigration status may be contributing factors. Our NIH-supported study of late stage HIV diagnosis further documents sex work activities among Latino low wage immigrant workers (LWIW), many of whom have low HIV knowledge and are not routinely testing. We integrated HIV testing into a multi-service center to assess the feasibility of improving uptake of HIV testing among LWIW, and barriers and facilitators of testing utilization with this hard- to -reach population

Description We partnered with La Clinica de la Raza to provide HIV testing and Street Level Health Project (SLHP) - which provides general health screenings, psychosocial and basic needs support to LWIWs. We integrated HIV testing into existing SLHP services to assess the feasibility of improving uptake of HIV testing. Testing was coupled with an optional interviewer administered survey to understand barriers and facilitators to HIV prevention services.

Lessons Learned LWIWs in Oakland have low knowledge of the importance of routine HIV testing. Most participants acknowledge the occurrence of sex work among fellow LWIWs. Preliminary data suggests that offering confidential HIV testing at a the multipurpose center nearly doubled the acceptance of HIV testing in this center. Providing testing at times that fit the workers' schedules may help facilitate uptake.

Recommendations Integrating HIV testing as part of overall multi-purpose programming for LWIW is feasible, with steps taken to ensure convenience and refining messages about regular testing

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Assess a strategy focused on scaling up and improving uptake of HIV testing among low wage immigrant workers (LWIW) in the Fruitvale District of Oakland, CA Assess risk behaviors, service delivery needs, and barriers and facilitators of HIV and other health services utilization among migrant workers and day laborers

Keyword(s): Migrant Workers, Latinos

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Research Project Coordinator for the Oakland Late Diagnosis Study at La Clinica de la Raza in Oakland, CA. I have also worked with the East Bay Latino immigrant population as a health educator and HIV care manager.
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.