title: A mobile HIV education, counseling, and testing unit: a pilot initiative.
abstract: In May and June, 1989, the Hartford (CT) Health Department piloted a mobile educational unit, the "HIVan," which also included an HIV counseling and testing component. The intent of this initiative was to reach African-American and Latino communities, and intravenous drug users (IVDUs) and sex workers, all communities at demonstrated risk for HIV infection in Hartford. Results indicate a high degree of success in reaching the targeted communities with the HIVan with HIV counseling and testing: 95.2% of the HIVan clients were African-American or Latino, 59.2% were IVDUs. Of 79 persons tested on the HIVan seroprevalence was 26.5%, almost five times that of the primary clinic site. Return for posttest counseling and results is currently low (20.2%), but will be monitored over time, as the rate of return for results increases over time. A recommendation is made to find and implement similar mobile initiatives in communities where at-risk persons are reluctant to enter a clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: AIDS/HIV Program, Hartford Health Department, CT 06112.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henrickson
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D003237:Connecticut; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D010865:Pilot Projects