162 HIV Testing Practices and Provider Attitudes in Belize Emergency Care

Developing an Accident and Emergency HIV Testing Program in Belize City: Recommendations from Key Stakeholders

“…The interviews focused on barriers and facilitators to HIV testing in the KHMHA A&E. The interview questions (see Supplemental Material) were developed in consultation with content area experts from KHMHA, based on research by the study authors, 8,[25][26][27] and informed by the necessary components of testing per Belizean national guidelines to include all phases of HIV testing: selection of patient population, counseling, consenting, results delivery, follow-up care, and other facilitators and barriers to HIV testing. 9 The questions were reviewed with local experts for cultural acceptability and ease of comprehension.…”

“…7 A 2015 medical record review over a 6-month period of current KHMHA A&E HIV testing practices revealed of approximately 12 400 adult visits, 1.2% of visits had an HIV test sent, of which 8.4% were positive. 8 Half of these positive HIV tests were new diagnoses, all diagnosed at a late stage of the disease process (CD4 count <200). Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority A&E currently has no systematic HIV testing programs in place, with testing performed based solely on provider discretion; however, given the high-risk population served, it has the potential to increase HIV diagnostic testing.…”