ID: HR19-342

Presenting author: Dirk Schaeffer

Presenting author biography:

Head of division "Drug use and prison" Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe. Experience in harm reduction as DCR, Hepatitis services. Head of pilot interventions "TEST IT" and "SMOKE IT" (changing drug use from injecting to inhalting).Patient representative at Federal Committee (G-BA) the highest decisionmaking body of physicians, hospitals, health insurance in Germany.

Counselling and testing services for HIV and Hepatitis C Virus and linkage to care for people who inject drugs – first results of a pilot intervention in Germany

Dirk Schaeffer, Miriam Gerlich

Abstract
The project builds on the results and recommendations for action of the DRUCK study (RKI 2016) and is conducted by the Federal Centre for Health Education in cooperation with Deutsche Aids-Hilfe and Robert Koch Institute.
GOALS
• Implementation of HIV and HCV counselling and testing services for PWID with limited access to medical services in low threshold settings, including DCRs. Early HIV/HCV testing and referral to treatment are provided
• to increase awareness of high-risk behaviors and prevention of blood and sexually transmitted infections.
• The level of knowledge of the project staff should be adapted to current needs by means of continuing education and training.
METHODS
- weekly consultations or "testing weeks" on HIV, hepatitis, risk situations and prevention were carried out in low threshold settings in Hamburg, Hannover, Troisdorf, Dortmund, Dusseldorf and Bremen from January 2018 to August 2019
- they provide free and anonymous rapid and laboratory tests for HIV and HCV.
- If the test result is positive, assistance in forwarding to treatment is offered.
EVALUATION
The project is accompanied by a mixed-method evaluation. Uptake of the service as well as favourable or adverse factors affecting the project implementation will be investigated. One question to be studied is the influence of regional differences, such as urban versus rural structures, on the results of the programme.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the accompanying evaluation should be a basis to offer drug services support in counselling and testing for HIV and HCV in low threshold settings
At HR 19 we will present the results of the interim report with first data about project utilization as well as favourable or hindering factors affecting the project implementation.