Working group 2 How can health care providers promote VCT?  Provider perspective with emphasis on primary care facilities Dirk Avonts, University of Antwerp

Primary care setting: advantages General practice is an anonymous environment: all kind of diseases are treated. It is not a shame to be there. The communication between patient and doctor is easy: a simple call and you can visit the doctor. A private atmosphere in the consultation room: only doctor and patient are present.

Primary care setting: disadvantages General practitioners (GP’s) are not inclined to talk about hiv-testing without a direct question of the patient. Is it true? How to change this attitude? Does the GP feels responsible for the global health of African patients? Are they registered in the general practice with a global medical record?

How to inform African patients about HIV-testing in primary care? The content of the promotion message: –You can have an hiv-test here. –The doctor is well informed about hiv/aids. –The doctor is bound by professional secrecy. –No test without your permission. –Anonymous testing? Rapid tests? –Other aspects?

How to inform African patients about HIV-testing in primary care? Where to announce the message? –Leaflet? –Posters? Where? –Newspaper? –Local radio and television? –Other ways to reach the target group?

How to motivate GP’s to offer an hiv-test to African patients? Are GP’s aware of the higher risk of an hiv-infection in these patients? Do they know the cultural sensitivities concerning hiv-testing and the consequences of a positive serostatus? How to improve the communication skills of GP’s with African patients?

Administrative framework How to reduce for the GP the burden of administrative work, related to the medical care for people illegal in the country? An administrative support for the patient? –to decrease the barrier to contact the GP for an hiv-test? Other stimulants for GP’s and patients?