Descentralização da testagem rápida para o HIV no município de Santo Antônio de Jesus - BA

Abstract

From its emergence to the present day, controlling the infection of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been a major challenge for public health organizations, which strive to create strategies to face, control and combat this epidemic. Therefore, the decentralization of rapid testing processes for HIV emerged to enable users to confirm their HIV status, occurring in Testing and Counseling Centers (CTA), Family Health Units (USF) and Basic Health Units (UBS). This study aimed to describe the process of decentralization of rapid HIV testing in the city of Santo Antônio de Jesus, State of Bahia. This is a quantitative, descriptive, indirect observational, retrospective documentary. Secondary data was collected in the form of rapid testing records in an USF in the same place, containing a sample of 1,212 rapid HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) tests carried out between January 2015 to December 2015 in 13 USF and two UBS. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of the Recôncavo of Bahia (UFRB), with favourable ethical opinion nº. 1,144,134 / 2015. The findings showed that the decentralization process of rapid HIV testing in the city occurred gradually, in compliance with the implementation of protocols and the orientation of the, Coordination of Sexually Transmitted Disease (DST) of the State of Bahia. It was also found that in two USF the decentralization process of rapid testing has not been implemented yet due to lack of structures performs the testing. It was noted that after the implementation of the decentralization process of testing in the USF, there was a reduction in the number of tests carried out by the municipality of referenced service. Two USF did not have testing records, an issue that made it impossible to collect the data in one of them; relative to the other USF the collection of data was made through the users informed consent and informed. Moreover, there are discrepancies in the record books in relation to test descriptions, which significantly hinder the knowledge of a professional nurse of HIV-positive service users. Following the implementation of the decentralization of rapid testing processes, seven HIV positive cases were diagnosed in the USF: three cases in men; two cases in pregnant women; two cases where the nurse could not divulge the sex. In terms of the health benefits, a properly structured decentralization process can positively impact on a population. For example, it can directly expand user access and create opportunities to the same right of choice regarding rapid testing sites. Please note that the organized Health Care Networks provide users with comprehensive, human and quality care, thus reducing the possible complications caused by HIV infection.