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Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation
P3.160 Optimising existing sexual health clinics increases hiv testing among gay and bisexual men at higher risk of infection
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  1. Muhammad Shahid Jamil1,
  2. Hamish Mcmanus1,
  3. Denton Callander1,
  4. Garrett Prestage1,
  5. Hammad Ali1,
  6. Vickie Knight2,
  7. Tim Duck3,
  8. Catherine C O’connor4,
  9. Marcus Chen5,
  10. Anna M Mcnulty2,
  11. Phillip Keen1,
  12. Nick Medland5,
  13. Margaret Hellard6,
  14. Andrew E Grulich7,
  15. David A Lewis8,
  16. John M Kaldor1,
  17. Christopher K Fairley5,
  18. Basil Donovan1,
  19. Rebecca J Guy1
  1. 1The Kirby Institute, Unsw Australia, Sydney, Australia
  2. 2Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, Australia
  3. 3Nsw Ministry of Health, Sydney, Australia
  4. 4Sexual Health Service, Community Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
  5. 5Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Melbourne, Australia
  6. 6Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
  7. 7The Kirby Institute, Unsw Australia, Sydney, Australia, Sydney, Australia
  8. 8Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Introduction Globally, community-based HIV testing models are recommended to improve access to testing with less focus on optimising existing clinical services. In the past 5 years, public-funded sexual health clinics (SHCs) in New South Wales (NSW, Australia) have taken a range of initiatives to improve efficiencies such as triage to divert low-risk heterosexuals, express clinics, online booking, self-registration and SMS reminders. We analysed temporal trends in HIV testing among gay and bisexual men (GBM) attending SHCs in this period and assessed if testing was targeted to high-risk GBM.

Methods We used retrospective data from 32 SHCs in NSW participating in a surveillance network. HIV-negative GBM were categorised based on client type (new or existing), risk status (using partner numbers and/or recent rectal sexually transmitted infection), and recent HIV testing (past 6 months for high-risk, past 12 months for low-risk GBM). We used repeated measures Poisson regression to assess trends in attendance, tests and contribution to total tests by GBM categories.

Results From 2009–2015, unique GBM attending increased by 82% (5,477 to 9,983), and HIV tests increased by 155% (4,779 to 12,173) with significant increase in all categories and greatest increase in existing high-risk clients. Of 58,377 HIV tests done, 74% were in existing and 35% in high-risk clients. Over time, existing high-risk clients with recent testing had an increasingly larger contribution to total tests (13% annual increase, 95% CI:8%–18%,p<0.001). There was a simultaneous annual decline in contribution by these low-risk categories: new clients (5% decline, 95% CI:2%–7%,p<0.001); existing clients with no recent testing (6% decline, 95% CI:5%–7%,p<0.001). There were no changes in contribution by other categories (new high-risk clients; existing high-risk clients with no recent testing; existing low-risk clients with recent testing).

Conclusion SHCs in NSW have successfully increased HIV testing among GBM, with greatest increase in high-risk men. The strategies adopted could be translated to other settings.

https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2017-053264.395

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