P09.07
Background: Adults in resource-limited countries frequently use retail pharmacies as the first or only source of treatment for various ailments. The aim of this study was to assess whether young adult clients of retail pharmacies can be referred for HIV-1 testing and engaged for HIV-1 prevention research.
Methods: We requested five pharmacies to refer clients meeting predefined criteria (18–29 years of age and requesting treatment for fever, diarrhoea, sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptoms or body pains) to selected study health facilities, where HIV-1 testing and screening for an ongoing HIV-1 prevention study was offered. Using multivariable logistic regression, we determined client characteristics associated with uptake of HIV-1 testing.
Results: From February through July 2013, 1,490 pharmacy clients met criteria for referral (range of weekly average by pharmacy: 4–35); 377 (25%) reported for screening at a health facility, 353 (24%) were HIV-1 tested and 127 (9%) met criteria for the prevention study. Of those tested 14 (3.9%) were HIV-1 infected. Test uptake varied significantly by referring pharmacy, and was higher for clients who presented at the pharmacy without a prescription vs. those with a prescription, and for clients who sought care for fever or STI symptoms vs. those who sought care for body pains.
Conclusions: About a quarter of retail pharmacy clients engaged for HIV-1 prevention research were tested for HIV-1. Clients seeking care directly at the pharmacy (i.e., without a prescription) and those with fever or STI symptoms were more likely to take up HIV-1 testing. Engagement of adult pharmacy clients for HIV-1 testing may identify undiagnosed individuals and offers opportunities for HIV-1 prevention research.
