Door-to-door hepatitis C screening in Georgia: An innovative model to increase testing and linkage to care.

Autor:	Butsashvili M; Health Research Union/Clinic NEOLAB, Tbilisi, Georgia., Zurashvili T; Health Research Union/Clinic NEOLAB, Tbilisi, Georgia., Kamkamidze G; Health Research Union/Clinic NEOLAB, Tbilisi, Georgia., Kajaia M; Health Research Union/Clinic NEOLAB, Tbilisi, Georgia., Gulbiani L; Health Research Union/Clinic NEOLAB, Tbilisi, Georgia., Gamezardashvili A; Health Research Union/Clinic NEOLAB, Tbilisi, Georgia., Gvinjilia L; TEPHINET, Tbilisi, Georgia., Kuchuloria T; TEPHINET, Tbilisi, Georgia., Gamkrelidze A; 443716National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia., Shadaker S; Division of Viral Hepatitis, 1242Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA., Nasrullah M; Division of Viral Hepatitis, 1242Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA., Averhoff F; Division of Viral Hepatitis, 1242Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA., Armstrong PA; Division of Viral Hepatitis, 1242Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Journal of medical screening [J Med Screen] 2022 Jun; Vol. 29 (2), pp. 134-136. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Mar 16.
DOI:	10.1177/09691413221086497
Abstrakt:	Objectives: Georgia has a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In 2015 a national HCV elimination program was launched providing free access to screening and treatment. To achieve elimination, innovative approaches to increase screening coverage and linkage to care are needed. This study estimates feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of the door-to-door pilot HCV testing program in three cities. Methods: Households were approached by system random sampling and all members were invited for study participation. Researchers used a detailed guide for conducting door-to-door testing and served as case navigators to link anti-HCV-positive individuals to care. Results: Testing acceptance rate was high. In total 4804 individuals were tested and 48 (1.0%) were HCV positive. Among the entire sample of newly and previously tested individuals, overall HCV antibody prevalence was 3.6%. Through case navigation, of 48 newly identified and 26 previously identified anti-HCV-positive individuals, 42 (87.5%) and 17 (65.4%), respectively, were successfully linked to care. Conclusions: Door-to-door HCV testing has potential to increase testing uptake. Such community-based approaches not only improve testing, but can also serve to increase linkage to care, which is important in achieving the goal of HCV elimination. The study provides a model for high prevalence countries aiming to eliminate hepatitis C.
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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