Service-academy integrative action project for STI/HIV testing in mobile units in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Early knowledge of HIV/STI serology favors the adoption of preventive measures. Mobile service
structures are able to expand testing, especially in hard-to-reach populations. In this article, we present basic information collected in a mobile testing action for HIV, syphilis and viral hepatitis carried out between 02/2016 and 06/2017 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, we describe some implementation challenges and discuss the importance of interdisciplinarity in facing the challenges of STI/HIV. HIV seroprevalence was 1.6%, varying with the month and location of the mobile unit. Most of the included population was male (2,323/58.4%), black (2,375/60.1%) and aged between 20-29 years (1,706/42.9%). The total prevalence of syphilis was 12.8% (20.5% in Jardim São João). About 21% of users had tested for HIV before and almost 40% reported a current exposure for testing (97.5% sexual). Previous STI was reported by 9.6% of the people assisted. Our data seem to indicate that the action reached a population most at risk of acquiring HIV. The horizontal relationship between the three spheres of government that guided the experience allowed the appreciation of different
knowledge, expanding perspectives to identify and propose solutions.