HIV Prevention, Testing and Counseling, and Strategic Information in the Republic of the Congo
Abstract
In 2013, an estimated 69% of all people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) resided in sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 23.5 million people. In the Republic of Congo, UNAIDS estimated in 2011 the HIV prevalence at 3.2% among adults aged 15 to 49 year old; this prevalence was higher among females than males (4.1% versus 2.1%). An estimated number of 4,600 deaths related to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) occurred in the country in 2011. A recent study conducted in 2014 by Metabiota and its partner Global Viral Forecasting Initiative (GVFI) found a prevalence of HIV infection of 3.6% among Congo military. The study also found that there was poor knowledge of HIV transmission among military personnel as well as inadequate access to free condoms and HIV testing services. Several military zones in need of additional HIV prevention education were identified, as well as areas, corps, and ranks with higher HIV prevalence rates, such as in the 2nd Defense zone in Dolisie (5.1%): gendarmerie with 5.2% rank and file up to 4.9% that need to be vigilantly monitored. The Republic of Congo military has been identified as the targeted population for this program. The military health system plays a key role in the overall country health coverage with the existence of military health facilities in the nine defense zones, delivering health care to military, their family members, and other civilian populations. The UNAIDS 90-90-90 target to end the AIDS epidemic relies on a three-part strategy: diagnosing new and unknown infections, ensuring sustained antiretroviral therapy of all people diagnosed with HIV, and ensuring viral suppression of all people reciving antiretroviral therapy. In order to move toward this target, the overall goal of this proposal is to strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis, linkage, care, and treatment in the military of the Congo, with the following objectives: 1. To improve existing HIV prevention programs, such as HIV transmission education, condom distribution, and the importance of routine testing. 2. To improve the military s ability to identify undiagnosed HIV infections by scaling up and supporting existing HIV testing services. 3. To scale up and support the military existing linkage, care, and treatment services, expanding access and utilization among military personnel, their family members, and community. 4. To reinforce the military s strategic planning and integration of strategic information to improve coordinated HIV prevention, diagnosis, care, and treatment. The strategy focuses on interventions along the clinical cascade, which are driven by findings from the recent 2014 SABERS study conducted in ROC. As part of HVOP prevention interventions, Metabiota will support the Congolese Public Forces (FPC) to conduct military focus groups to improve understanding of risk factors among military personnel in urban centers who engage in transactional sex. Behavior change will be reinforced through condom availability in military barracks, bases and units through the provision of 500,000 condoms free to military, and the development and production of 5,000 pamphlets and 1,500 posters, including information on HIV transmission, associated risk behaviors, and routine HIV testing. The ROC military s ability to identify undiagnosed HIV infections is expected to be improved through training of 100 HIV counselors, which will be accompanies by BCC training manuals to be used as prevention reference materials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 22, 2016
- Source ID
- N002441510067
Entities
People
- Karen Saylors
Organizations
- United States Navy