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Interventions for Increasing HIV Testing Uptake in Migrants: A Systematic Review of Evidence

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Abstract

Migrants have been identified as being at greater risk for late HIV testing and diagnosis. Late diagnosis is of concern because timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment can both optimise health outcomes and reduce transmission. We reviewed and evaluated interventions that aimed to increase HIV testing uptake in migrant populations. Of 6511 papers retrieved, 10 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Three types of interventions were identified (exposure to HIV prevention messages, HIV education programs, and direct offer of testing). All interventions were based on individual models of behaviour change targeting migrants or GPs. While important, interventions that also address broader health system and structural factors that contribute to late HIV-diagnosis in at-risk members of migrant populations are needed. Integrating PITC into existing primary healthcare settings shows promise of creating an enabling environment within patient-doctor relationships that can encourage HIV testing uptake among migrant populations.

Resumen

Los inmigrantes tienen mayor riesgo de ser diagnosticados tardíamente con VIH. Esto preocupa ya que un diagnóstico y tratamiento oportunos permiten reducir la transmisión de la enfermedad y optimizar su manejo. Revisamos y evaluamos intervenciones encaminadas a aumentar el uso de las pruebas de detección del VIH en poblaciones de inmigrantes. De los 6511 artículos recuperados, 10 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Se identificaron tres tipos de intervenciones dirigidas a inmigrantes o Médicos Generales basadas en modelos individuales de cambio comportamental: exposición a mensajes de prevención, programas educativos y oferta de la prueba de detección. Es necesario intervenir factores estructurales y del sistema de salud que retrasan el diagnóstico del VIH en inmigrantes con riesgo. Integrar los servicios de detección y consejería (PITC en inglés) a los centros de atención primaria en salud es una forma propicia de fomentar la utilización de pruebas de detección en poblaciones de inmigrantes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia

    Eithandee Aung, Sarah J. Blondell & Jo Durham

Authors
  1. Eithandee Aung
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  2. Sarah J. Blondell
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  3. Jo Durham
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eithandee Aung.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in undertaking this review.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or humans performed by any of the authors.

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Appendices

Appendix 1

See Table 4.

Table 4 Studies included in the review
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Appendix 2

See Table 5. Amended from Risk of Bias Tool developed by Hoy et al. [31].

Table 5 Amended risk of bias tool
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Appendix 3

See Table 6. Amended from Risk of Bias Tool developed by Hoy et al. [31].

Table 6 Amended risk of bias tool (with notes)
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Aung, E., Blondell, S.J. & Durham, J. Interventions for Increasing HIV Testing Uptake in Migrants: A Systematic Review of Evidence. AIDS Behav 21, 2844–2859 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1833-3

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