 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Stephanie Taylor, PhD, MPH, Department of Sociology, UCLA, 264 Haines Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, 301-206-5770, sltaylor@ucla.edu
Despite the potential of mobile medical care vans to reach persons facing financial and geographic barriers to care, few have examined HIV-testing among diverse populations at risk for HIV. This study describes the characteristics of persons testing for HIV at the Mobile HIV Outreach Program's (MoHOP) van in Los Angeles (LA) and evaluates the van's delivery of HIV tests. Since 1993, the van has provided 45,000 HIV tests in LA, a city having the nation's second highest number of AIDS cases in 2001. Methods: Persons testing in the van from1999-2002 (using MoHOP data, n=1,200) were compared with: 1) persons testing in other types of publicly-funded test sites such as STD or family planning clinics (using LA county data) and 2) persons testing at other sites such as MDs offices (using 1999 LA County Health Survey data- a random sample of adults). Results: We will describe the characteristics of persons testing at the van and, to evaluate the van, will report: 1) the proportion of all county, publicly-funded tests that the van performs, 2) whether or not the van reaches a larger proportion of uninsured or high risk persons than other types of testing sites in the county, and 3) testers' satisfaction with the van. Implications: The results could shape policy regarding the use of mobile vans for HIV-testing nationally and in LA. The findings may support an argument to modify the number of vans in a service area, the van's service area, or other aspects of the van.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.