Assessment of CDC-Funded Counseling, Testing, Referral, and Partner Notification (CTRPN) Services for Prevention of HIV Transmission.

摘要

The cornerstone of the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC's) HIV/AIDS prevention efforts is its counseling, testing, referral, and partner notification (CTRPN) program. The study, prepared in support of a comprehensive system to monitor and evaluate CTRPN services, uses case studies of 43 sites to describe the range of services provided by the program, the populations seeking services, and the variables that will affect program success. Findings include that (1) other than a pretest and post test counseling session, many sites provide only minimal services for those who are at risk of HIV, but who are not yet infected; (2) improvements are needed to ensure that individuals return for test results and that referral systems are in place; (3) CDC has attempted to improve data collection, management, and use: however, few programs use client data for program planning or evaluation; and (4) counselors report recommends that: (1) more research examine the needs and resources for prevention services for those who test negative for HIV; (2) program guidelines and technical assistance place greater emphasis on the importance of voluntary returns for test results for assessing CTRPN efficacy; (3) a systematic assessment of remaining barriers to consistent data collection and use be conducted; and (4) evaluations determine whether training meets new and experienced counselors' expectations and needs.