Social Network HIV Testing in Oakland, California Yamini Bhatnagar - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Social Network HIV Testing in Oakland, California Yamini Bhatnagar Downtown Youth Clinic – East Bay AIDS Center

Background: HIV Prevalence in Oakland Almost Twice Nation Oakland USA Prevalence 850/100,000 448/100,000 MSM 58% 48% African American 59% 46% Data sources: Alameda County Office of AIDS Administration, data from 2008 CDC, data from 2006

Background: Downtown Youth Clinic - Who Are We?  Youth track of East Bay AIDS Center  “ Clinic Without Walls ”  100+ HIV+ youth (13-24) currently in care  >65% African American; >70%MSM Preventing new Finding HIV infection Positive youth Maintaining Linking them Them in Care To care

Methods: Social Network Testing  January 2010 - June 2010  HIV+ youth recruited as index patients  $10 incentives per referral; $20 incentives per youth getting tested  Counseling provided to all youth referred for HIV testing

Results: 14% Newly Diagnosed 78 tested 13 positive 11 newly 2 previously 65 negative diagnosed diagnosed (Re-linked)  7 linked to 4 not linked care (No conf. test  ) 6 retained in 1 not care (@6mo) retained

Results: Several Types of Networks HIV + Index patient HIV+ Network Associate HIV- Network Associate

Results: Social Network Testing = High Yield Testing

Lessons: Stigma is a Barrier at Every Stage  Preliminary disclosure  Confirmatory blood work  Linkage to care  Retention in care

Lessons: Reduces Disparities  National HIV/AIDS Strategy: focus on reducing health disparities  Reaching marginalized peoples  Provided incentives to those removed from system  Network associate demographic  Index patients often out of care

Acknowledgements  Damon Francis, MD  Michael D ’ Arata, FNP  Alex Williams  Kathryn Ruiz, A. Daniel Ramos and Downtown Youth Clinic  East Bay AIDS Center