Background
Limited access to HIV testing among adult impedes early diagnosis and access to antiretroviral therapy. We report on the optimization of case identification through index case Testing (ICT) in Littoral Cameroon.
Methods
From October 2021 the intervention package put in place consisted of improving the notification sheet by adding profession,language,availability to take calls, the systematic triage of people who had to call sexual partners and implicating clinicians in clients notification,refresh done on the quality of elicitation and put on place the SOPS in the various sites
We assessed the number of patients who underwent ICT and compared the results12 months before and later the intervention. The primary outcome was to the contribution of ICT during the two time periods.
Results
Before intervention 6013 patients offered ICT testing versus 26090 patients after intervention, and among these 6013 patients, 3620 (60.2 %) were identified as eligibles contacts versus 13424 eligibles after intervention and on the 3592 who underwent HIV testing, 434 (12%) were identified HIV before, after 12 month intensive testing period we tested 13424 (99.8%) which 1238 patients were identified positives cases with a level of contribution of 22,6% versus 15% . During the intensification period, HIV prevalence remains high with 7312 new positive and ICT contribution in overall testing moved from 12% to 17%.
Conclusions
The improve of notification form with a good triage had increase the numbers of people tested and permit an increase of identification of positives cases.