Accessing Social Networks with High Rates of Undiagnosed HIV Infection: The Social Networks Demonstration Project

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2009 Apr 18

PMID 19372521

Citations 71

Authors

Lisa W Kimbrough

Holly E Fisher

Kenneth T Jones

Wayne Johnson

Sekhar Thadiparthi

Samuel Dooley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the use of social networks to reach persons with undiagnosed HIV infection in ethnic minority communities and link them to medical care and HIV prevention services.

Methods: Nine community-based organizations in 7 cities received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enlist HIV-positive persons to refer others from their social, sexual, or drug-using networks for HIV testing; to provide HIV counseling, testing, and referral services; and to link HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative persons to appropriate medical care and prevention services.

Results: From October 1, 2003, to December 31, 2005, 422 recruiters referred 3172 of their peers for HIV services, of whom 177 were determined to be HIV positive; 63% of those who were HIV-positive were successfully linked to medical care and prevention services. The HIV prevalence of 5.6% among those recruited in this project was significantly higher than the approximately 1% identified in other counseling, testing, and referral sites funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Conclusions: This peer-driven approach is highly effective and can help programs identify persons with undiagnosed HIV infection in high-risk networks.

Citing Articles

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Paiboon N, Songtaweesin W, Wongharn P, Moonwong J, Khamthi S, Premgamone A J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2022; 21:23259582221143672.

PMID: 36464688 PMC: 9726844. DOI: 10.1177/23259582221143672.

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