Risk reduction counseling

1
Risk reduction counseling
Liana Velica, ARAS
2
Base methods in HIV prevention Information
Education - Counseling
Goal change of the behavior with HIV infection
risk
3
Main principles

• Confidentiality
• Voluntary involvement
• Informed consent
• Involving the beneficiary
• Scientific base (Knowledge, skills, working
  models)
• component of a prevention and support system
• references (and the known your borders)

4
Characteristics of the services aiming to change
the risk behavior
5
Pre and post HIV test counseling Components

• Completing the information on HIV infection
• Evaluating the personal risk of being infected
  with HIV
• Developing a risk reduction plan
• Facilitating the decision making in getting a test

6
Pre and post test HIV counseling ARAS project

• Initiated in 1999 in partnership with DHP
• 3 districts
• 4000 beneficiaries/year
• In Bucharest, 43 of the beneficiaries are
  vulnerable persons
• The services respects standards and working
  protocols
• VCT centre is promoted through all ARAS
  activities
• Has an advocacy component for the extension of
  the services (conferences, working groups,
  counseling training training accredited by the
  Ministry of Health )

7
Voluntary HIV counseling and testingServices

• Pre test HIV counseling
• Information about HIV and testing procedures
• Information about the significance of the test
  result
• Support for risk assessment and for developing a
  risk reduction plan
• informed consent
• HIV testing
• Collecting the blood sample
• Laboratory
• The test can be anonymous/nominal
• Post HIV test counseling
• Announcing the result
• Emotional support
• Analyzing the implementation of risk reduction
  plan
• Referals to medical or social services
• Other services
• Distribution of infomative materials and
  protection materials
• Other tests - for syphilis, hepatitis B and C

8
Beneficiaries of VCT services Bucharest, 2003
- 2005
9
Reasons for HIV test Bucharest, 2003 - 2005
10
Implementation of risk reduction plan Bucharest,
2003-2005
11
Test resultsBucharest, 2003 - 2005
12
Training in pre and post test counseling

• Participants
• get knowledge regarding the HIV counseling and
  testing process
• develop their skills needed to practice HIV
  counseling

13
Lessons learned

• The importance of the existence of an HIV
  prevention services network
• Necessity of the collaboration with public
  institutions (including advocacy for their
  involvement)
• Utility of training, monitoring, evaluation and
  support for the personnel