HIV & AIDS Prevention and Services Support to the Dominican Republic Dense Forces
Abstract
HIV and AIDS Prevention and Services Support to the Dominican Republic Defense Forces: Program Abstract Population Services International (PSI) and its local network member PSI/Dominican Republic (PSI/DR) propose a four year HIV and AIDS prevention and services support program. The program will use a combined approach that focuses on biomedical and behavioral interventions aimed at reaching the most at risk groups within the military medical system, including military personnel and their dependents. Biomedical interventions will include improved access to condoms, appropriate HIV testing and counseling (HTC) services (including provider initiated HTC), and linkages and referrals to care. Behavioral interventions will include HIV and sexually transmitted infections risk reduction counseling; behavior change communication (BCC) to improve knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV and strengthen the efficacy and skills necessary to adopt healthy behaviors; and gender-based violence (GBV), stigma, and discrimination reduction activities. Stigma-reducing policies, gender transformational policies and practices, and other environmental drivers of HIV will also be addressed. Sustainability and military ownership will be a key part of this program. PSI/DR will focus on building the capacity of the Dominican Department of Defense (MIDE) to implement, monitor, and evaluate the biomedical and behavioral interventions. The program will build upon best practices in HIV prevention with military personnel to contribute to the goal of reducing the incidence of HIV among allied troops and their dependents. PSI/DR will implement an evidence-based program, developed in conjunction with Dominican Republic military personnel to: Increase the percentage of most at-risk military personnel and their dependents reached by program activities who use condoms correctly and consistently. Increase the number of most at-risk military personnel and their dependants who have been tested for HIV, have received their results, and have been referred to appropriate services in the past year. Increase the capacity of MIDE to offer HIV prevention services to most at-risk military personnel and their dependents by establishing the creation of a MIDE annual planning process for HIV prevention. Increase the percentage of MIDE health personnel who demonstrate HIV knowledge, practice, beliefs, and reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Key activities will include: 1) conducting targeted BCC activities among populations most at risk within the military medical system and that are geared towards influencing the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices around HIV prevention; 2) training specialized master trainers to influence military personnel and their dependants behavior; 3) developing BCC materials, including materials focused on gender and women; 4) ensuring access to free, unbranded condoms by improving internal distribution within MIDE; 5) introducing rapid diagnostic HTC kits and a confidential testing policy; 6) addressing loss to follow-up problems through improved client tracking and implementation of a unique identifier code; 7) integrating other health and wellness services with HTC services; 8) improving service provider training to focus on client confidentiality; and 9) coordinating across different sectors of government to ensure alignment on HTC and other healthy lifestyle services as well as to ensure program sustainability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 2016
- Source ID
- N002441510015
Entities
People
- Wendy Alba
Organizations
- United States Navy