Variety of individuals examined in a non-clinical setting rose 19 per cent in 2023
The next proportion of females who had been examined for HIV in a non-clinical setting obtained a optimistic outcome in comparison with males, a brand new evaluation reveals.
The HSE report discovered that, whereas there was considerably extra HIV testing of males than girls in non-clinical settings that yr, 1.3 per cent of females examined optimistic, in comparison with 0.6 per cent of males.
In whole, 3,754 community-based HIV assessments had been carried out by 5 associate organisations, a rise of 19 per cent on 2022, when 3,142 assessments passed off. Greater than three-in-four assessments had been carried out on males.
Virtually half of all testing (46.8 per cent) occurred in lodging centres for worldwide safety candidates. Different places the place neighborhood testing occurred embody non-governmental organisation (NGO) headquarters (17.1 per cent), and bars or golf equipment (11.1 per cent).
General, 32 people had reactive check outcomes, of which 24 had been first-time diagnoses, six had been beforehand recognized with HIV, and two had an unknown historical past. Excluding the six people with a beforehand identified HIV prognosis, the reactivity price was 0.7 per cent.
Well being officers discovered that 16 males and 9 girls obtained optimistic outcomes. One transgender feminine was recorded with a optimistic outcome, however officers famous that reactivity charges among the many transgender inhabitants could also be underreported.
A complete of 14 optimistic assessments had been present in worldwide safety lodging centres. Eleven of those had been first-time diagnoses, and comprised of six males and 5 girls. In sauna and sex-on-premises venues, six optimistic outcomes had been revealed out of 124 assessments carried out, representing the best reactivity price of any non-clinical setting, at 4.8 per cent.
“The reactivity price seen in neighborhood settings the place key populations stay and socialise demonstrates the advantage of increasing testing past conventional well being settings, reaching those that are underserved,” mentioned the authors of the report ‘Monitoring neighborhood HIV testing in Eire, 2023’.
“Neighborhood testing is a part of a broader technique to extend entry to HIV testing, together with residence and self-testing. Combining these strategies with facility-based testing enhances entry and reduces the variety of individuals dwelling with HIV who’re unaware of their standing.”
The info discovered that first time testers had a better positivity price (1.5 per cent) in comparison with repeat testers (0.5 per cent).
Excluding teams with low numbers examined, positivity charges had been highest amongst migrants from nations of excessive HIV prevalence (two per cent), adopted by homosexual, bisexual, and different males who’ve intercourse with males (one per cent).
The report additionally famous different HIV testing knowledge, together with the uptake of the HSE’s free STI home-testing service which had its first full yr in operation in 2023.
That yr, the home-testing programme processed 57,516 accomplished assessments for HIV. Of those, 16 had been confirmed optimistic.
A reception centre for worldwide safety candidates at Balseskin in north Dublin additionally gives opt-in HIV screening as a part of a normal well being screening programme.
In 2023, 1,847 individuals had been screened for HIV as a part of this programme. In whole, 79 (4.3 per cent) had been confirmed HIV optimistic of which 14 (0.8 per cent) had been first-time diagnoses. Of the 79, virtually all (97 per cent) had been from Sub-Saharan Africa.
