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Abstract Details
Upscaling HIV and hepatitis C testing in primary healthcare settings: stigma-sensitive practice
Aust J Prim Health. 2021 Aug;27(4):255-258. doi: 10.1071/PY20176.
Emily Lenton1, Jen Johnson2, Graham Brown3
Author information
1The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia; and Corresponding author. Email: e.lenton@latrobe.edu.au.
2The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia.
3The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia; and Present address: Centre for Social Impact UNSW, 704, Level 7, Science Engineering Building, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Abstract
Increasing testing for viral hepatitis and HIV is central to meeting World Health Organization and Australian targets to eliminate blood-borne viruses as public health priorities by 2030. In this paper we draw on findings and recommendations from a Victorian consultation with 40 health and community practitioners engaged with blood-borne virus testing. The consultation focused on identifying what constitutes best practice in pre- and post-testing discussion in the current era of highly effective treatments for HIV and hepatitis C. Overall, the consultation found that the pre- and post-test discussion remains an important feature of testing, but, given that stigma continues to impact the lives of people affected by these viruses, sensitivity to this issue needs to inform how these discussions take place. We describe how primary healthcare settings can support the goal of upscaling HIV and hepatitis C testing in a way that delivers safe and stigma-free testing encounters. We offer the notion of 'stigma-sensitive practice' as a term to describe this approach to pre- and post-test discussions.