Rapid testing and counseling for HIV/STIs in Mexican community-based residential care facilities for substance use disorders: A prospective study protocol

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Rapid testing and counseling (RTC) procedures have become a relevant strategy to decrease the health impact of HIV/STIs. It’s known that individuals who use substances have an increased risk for HIV/STIs. In Mexico about a third of the individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) receive treatment at the Community-Based Residential Care Facilities (C-BRCF), but procedures in this setting to link individuals to HIV/STIs care haven’t been developed. The primary aim, is to test the acceptability of RTC procedure in individuals who receive treatment in the C-BRCF for SUDs. Methods: A multi-site, observational, prospective study will recruit participants in C-BRCF for SUDs. After discharge from the facilities, participants will receive six monthly follow-up calls. Six hundred participants will be inquired about their substance-use, condom-use, number of sexual-partners and assistance to sexual-health-services (including confirmatory testing). Primary outcome will be assessed by measuring the proportion of participants who accept the STIs testing, expecting that at least 70% of the accept to undergo in the RTC procedure. Conclusion: Mexico is struggling to reach the first goal of the 90–90–90 UNAIDS global goal, the detection of the 90% of HIV positive cases. The results of this study will provide significant data about a strategy to reach a key population. Abbreviations: SUDs: substance use disorders; STIs: sexually transmitted infections; CODs: co-occurring disorders; UEC-INPRFM: clinical trials unit in addiction and mental health-national institute of psychiatry ramón de la fuente muñiz