title: Serving the underserved: an HIV testing program for populations reluctant to attend conventional settings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assess the contribution of a rapid-HIV testing program run by Médicos del Mundo and oriented to vulnerable populations reluctant to attend conventional settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compare the program outcomes with a network of 20 HIV/STI clinics (EPIVIH) and the Spanish National Surveillance System (SNHSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  33.3% of the new diagnoses were women (8.6% EPIVIH and 17.7% SNHSS). Transsexuals were 6.9% (1.9% EPIVIH), female sex workers 23.6% (2.0% EPIVIH) and 19.4% Sub-Saharan Africans (3.8% EPIVIH and 7.8% SNHSS). HIV prevalence in men was slightly higher than in the EPIVIH and almost twice among women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This program is contributing substantially to the promotion of HIV diagnosis in female sex workers, sub-Saharan Africans and transsexuals, which are less present at clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: National Epidemiology Centre, Carlos III Health Institute C/Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029, Madrid, Spain, soniafb@isciii.es.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández-Balbuena
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Belza
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Urdaneta
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteso
authors.forename: M Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rosales-Statkus
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult