The Louisiana Wellness Centers Program for HIV/STD Prevention Among Gay and Bisexual Men and Transgender Persons.

CONTEXT: During the conduct of the described demonstration project (2012-2015), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding standard for HIV testing was 1.0% newly diagnosed positivity in non-health care settings. For linkage to HIV medical care, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy goal was 85%, and the funding standard was 80% (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National HIV/AIDS Strategy had no other quantified goals/standards relevant to the project).

OBJECTIVE

To determine aggregate quantitative results of HIV/STD testing and engagement in HIV care.

DESIGN

Information sources used for this case study analysis included the Louisiana Department of Health funding application, progress and final reports submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and records of communications between these agencies.

SETTING

Six community-based Wellness Centers throughout Louisiana.

PARTICIPANTS

Gay and bisexual men and transgender persons.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: New HIV/STD diagnoses from testing, linkage to HIV care, and reengagement in HIV medical care.

RESULTS

The percentage of persons who were newly diagnosed with HIV was 1.4% (44/3214). Of the newly diagnosed persons, 91% (40/44) were linked to HIV medical care. Of persons who were identified as out of care, 83% (5/6) were reengaged in HIV medical care. STD testing results showed that 9.0% (294/3251) of the syphilis tests were positive, and 8.3% (803/9719) of the chlamydia/gonorrhea tests were positive. The pharyngeal chlamydia/gonorrhea positivity was 7.6% (256/3375); the rectal chlamydia/gonorrhea positivity was 13% (374/2948); and the urine chlamydia/gonorrhea positivity was 5.1% (173/3396).

CONCLUSIONS

The demonstration project was successful. The results were used to discontinue funding for a less effective HIV screening program, continue demonstration project activities with other funds, and make policy changes so that extragenital screening for chlamydia/gonorrhea is now the standard at Louisiana clinics that serve gay and bisexual men and transgender persons.