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Title
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Voluntary outreach counselling and testing for hiv and sti among men who have sex with men in Antwerp
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Author
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Abstract
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| Background: High risk settings for transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) offer an opportunity for screening of difficult to reach risk groups. Methods: Free, anonymous counselling and testing for HIV, syphilis, Chlamydia and hepatitis B/C were offered to visitors in two selected gay venues in Antwerp, by a multidisciplinary team. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire. The STI-test results were communicated by cell phone using standardised text messages. Results: In total, 137 MSM were tested. Facilitators of risky sexual behaviour (alcohol and drug use) were reported by 34 and 21%, respectively. Four men (3%) were newly diagnosed with HIV; 25 men (18%) had an active, transmittable STI. Infected MSM were significantly less often registered with a fixed general practitioner (GP). Conclusions: Outreach testing in gay venues is a suitable method to detect MSM at risk for HIV/STI. Although the outreach approach is very labour intensive, it shows a high yield of new STI-diagnoses that are not detected in the regular health system. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Acta clinica Belgica. - Leuven, 1946 - 1997
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Publication
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Leuven
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2012
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ISSN
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0001-5512
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DOI
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10.2143/ACB.67.3.2062651
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Volume/pages
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67
:3
(2012)
, p. 172-176
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ISI
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000312469300004
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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