Abstract
To analyze how health professionals and health service users assess counseling on Rapid HIV test, as well as its implementation, which started in Brazil in 2010, focusing on positive aspects, barriers, and limitations, and analyzing possible meanings that are given to STD and HIV/AIDS. Qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive research. Semi-structured interviews were administered to 27 service users and 14 health care professionals; a thematic analysis of the interviews was performed. The study was carried out in one of the first Counseling and Testing Centers (CTC) designed to implement Rapid HIV tests in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Positive aspects of Rapid HIV testing implementation included a reduced waiting time for obtaining the test results, better assistance provision, an increase in the number of service hours, personalized pre- and post-tests, and better prepared health care professionals regarding health care during counseling. Limitations included beliefs about the effectiveness of Rapid HIV testing, physical structure, bad publicity on this technology, and poor health care capacity. Likewise, there are some who oppose this type of test, since they believe rapid tests may not be effective. Integrating the perspectives of health care professionals and users on this policy will favor future rapid test implementations in other CTCs, and increase health care access possibilities.
Highlights
Data collection was made through semi-structured interviews administered to 14 health professionals and 27 users of the Counseling and Testing Centers (CTC) who were tested through rapid testing technology for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and
Results are presented under the following theme-based categories: Positive aspects of the technology; access ba
All participants considered that changing from conventional to rapid testing was a positive aspect, and emphasized the benefits of a reduced waiting time for obtaining the test results: “Go there and get tested, because it’s good and fast, and you can make it in just a day
Summary
This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study carried out at one of the first Counseling and TestingREVISTA DE SALUD PÚBLICA · Volumen 20 [5], octubre 2018Centers (CTC) designed to implement Rapid HIV Tests in Brazil, located in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study carried out at one of the first Counseling and Testing. REVISTA DE SALUD PÚBLICA · Volumen 20 [5], octubre 2018. Centers (CTC) designed to implement Rapid HIV Tests in Brazil, located in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Data collection was made through semi-structured interviews administered to 14 health professionals and 27 users of the CTC who were tested through rapid testing technology for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and. C diagnosis, and who were considered as vulnerable population. In order to guarantee data confidentiality health professionals’ socio-demographic characteristics will not be disclosed, and they will be identified as P1, P2, etc. Age (years) Population type Schooling U1 Man/MSMa High School U2
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