Increasing the uptake of HIV testing among black Africans in England
Increasing the uptake of HIV testing to reduce undiagnosed infection and prevent transmission among black African communities living in England
This is one of two pieces of NICE guidance published in March 2011 on how to increase the uptake of HIV testing. A second publication covers HIV testing among men who have sex with men.
This guidance is for NHS and other commissioners, managers and practitioners who have a direct or indirect role in, and responsibility for, increasing the uptake of HIV testing among black African communities. This includes those working in local authorities and the wider public, private, voluntary and community sectors. It will also be of interest to members of the public, in particular black Africans living in England.
The focus of the guidance is on increasing the uptake of HIV testing to reduce undiagnosed infection and prevent transmission.
The recommendations include advice on:
- community engagement and involvement
- planning services, including assessing local need, developing a strategy and commissioning services in areas of identified need
- promoting HIV testing and reducing barriers to testing among black African communities
- offering and recommending an HIV test
- HIV referral pathways
- Increasing the uptake of HIV testing among men who have sex with men – http://guidance.nice.org.uk/PH34
This guidance is for NHS and other commissioners, managers and practitioners who have a direct or indirect role in, and responsibility for, increasing the uptake of HIV testing among men who have sex with men. This includes those working in local authorities and the wider public, private, voluntary and community sectors. It will also be of interest to members of the public, in particular men who have sex with men.
The focus of the guidance is on increasing the uptake of HIV testing to reduce undiagnosed infection and prevent transmission.
The recommendations include advice on:
- planning services, including assessing local need and developing a strategy
- promoting HIV testing among men who have sex with men, including outreach schemes and providing rapid point-of-care tests
- offering and recommending an HIV test in primary care, secondary care and specialist sexual health services
- repeat testing
- HIV referral pathways