Cost-effectiveness of Using Social Networks to Identify Undiagnosed HIV Infection Among Minority Populations

Abstract

The cost of notifying someone with a new HIV diagnosis using social networks varied across sites. Our analysis provides useful information for program planning and evaluation.

Evaluation of the Relative Effectiveness of Three HIV Testing Strategies Targeting African American Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in New York City

“…These rates were less than the alternative venue testing rate in the current study (6.3%). With regard to the social networks strategy, the detected HIV-positivity rate in this study (19%) was higher than rates (ranging from 4.4% to 9.8%) cited in previous work [22][23][24][25]. We hypothesize that the higher rates detected in our work may be due to higher prevalence of HIV in New York City, especially among the high-risk group of African American MSM, and potentially due to the use of monetary incentives.…”

“…While previous research has examined the effectiveness of alternative venue testing, [20,26] the social networks strategy, [22][23][24][25] and partner services [16,27] strategies alone, and in comparison to in-house testing, none have effectively compared all the methods nor considered these strategies in relation to participants' risk profiles. The current investigation is the first to compare positivity rates across three testing strategies (i.e., alternative venue testing, the social networks strategy, and partner services) and analyze sexual risk behaviors by HIV testing strategy for African American MSM.…”

“…The literature suggests that the social networks strategy may be an effective method for identifying persons with undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections, including HIV [22][23][24][25]. In the social networks strategy, HIV testers and agency staff engage either HIV-positive individuals or those at high risk of seroconversion to become "recruiters."…”

Towards Universal Voluntary HIV Testing and Counselling: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Community-Based Approaches

“…It is also important to safeguard confidentiality and prevent possible coercion, discrimination, and other adverse consequences for key populations being offered HTC in community settings. Further operational research on community-based testing for key populations, including mobile peer-based models [120],[133],[158],[159], within this human rights framework is needed.…”

Costs and cost–effectiveness of HIV community services: quantity and quality of studies published 1986–2011

“…Unit costs for HICs ranged between US$212 and 28,884, for UMICs between US$8 and 1806, and for LICs the unit cost was US$17,575 (TABLE 7) . Cost-effectiveness analysis of some of these services was performed in HICs and LICs and results were US$14,802 and US$1294-2000, respectively Home-based care 204 [80] 4 [76] Mobile testing 24-64 [34] Door-to-door counseling 15-24 [35] Household member HCT 37-39 [53,75] Rapid testing in transgender community 650-693 [86] Peer referral for MSM 392 [65] Per HIV-positive client tested 428-515 [34] Per client notifi ed of serostatus [77] 217-647 [34] Person notifi ed of new diagnosis 4013-18,740 [52] Transgender community 3817-8874 [86] Newly infected MSM 10,165-13,439 [66] Per person confi rmed with HIV diagnosis…”