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. 2019 Oct;23(10):2870-2878.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02527-3.

Limited Knowledge and Lack of Screening for Acute HIV Infection at Primary Care Clinics in High-Prevalence Communities of New York City

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Limited Knowledge and Lack of Screening for Acute HIV Infection at Primary Care Clinics in High-Prevalence Communities of New York City

Javier Lopez-Rios et al. AIDS Behav. 2019 Oct.

Abstract

Diagnosis and treatment of acute HIV infection (AHI) is crucial for ending the HIV epidemic. Individuals with AHI, who have high viral loads and often are unaware of their infection, are more likely to transmit HIV to others than those with chronic infection. In preparation for an educational intervention on AHI in primary health care settings in high HIV-prevalence areas of New York City, 22 clinic directors, 313 clinic providers, and 220 patients were surveyed on their knowledge and awareness of the topic from 2012-2015. Basic HIV knowledge was high among all groups while knowledge of AHI was partial among providers and virtually absent among patients. Inadequate knowledge about this crucial phase of HIV may be impeding timely identification of cases in the primary care setting.

El diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección aguda para el VIH (AHI por sus siglas en inglés) es crucial para detener la epidemia del VIH. Las personas con AHI, quienes tienen cargas virales altas y a menudo desconocen de su infección, son más propensas a transmitir el VIH a otras personas que aquellas con una infección crónica. En preparación para una intervención educativa sobre el AHI en clínicas de cuidado de salud primaria, localizadas en áreas de alta prevalencia para el VIH de la ciudad de Nueva York, 22 directores de clínicas, 313 proveedores de salud, y 220 pacientes fueron encuestados sobre su conocimiento del AHI durante el periodo del 2012 al 2015. Todos los grupos demostraron alto conocimiento básico acerca del VIH. Sin embargo, los proveedores de salud demostraron conocimiento parcial acerca del AHÍ, mientras que los pacientes prácticamente desconocían sobre el AHÍ. El conocimiento inadecuado sobre esta fase crucial del VIH puede impedir la identificación oportuna de casos de AHI en sectores de la salud primaria.

Keywords: Acute HIV infection; Healthcare providers; Knowledge and screening; Primary care.

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