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HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment

HIV/AIDS in Vietnam has been concentrated in high-risk populations, particularly among injection drug users (IDUs). Results from the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance survey conducted by Family Health International (FHI) and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in 2009 show that HIV prevalence among IDUs in Ho Chi Minh City was 46%, a significant increase from rates recorded in 2006. The increase is likely due to the large numbers of people released during this period from drug detention centers (06 Centers) where HIV prevalence is high. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, more than 15,000 individuals were released from 06 Centers to Ho Chi Minh City by January 2009.

Health Systems 20/20 is helping to evaluate a transitional program for individuals released from 06 Centers in Ho Chi Minh City that provides peer support, health care, vocational training, and employment assistance for individuals returning to their communities from 06 Centers.

The transitional program focuses on pre-release interventions in the centers and post-release interventions in the community. In the centers, residents and case managers become acquainted, and identify community-based health and other services available for returnees when they go home. In addition, the transitional program provides a variety of services in the community, including peer education, case management, and social supports. In each district, social workers and social volunteers facilitate reintegration by working closely with case managers and regularly meeting with returnees, helping them with relapse prevention counseling, job seeking assistance, and referrals for voluntary counseling and testing, outpatient clinics for ARV treatment, and services at other health facilities.

The evaluation of the pilot program will have four components, including an integrated process evaluation, a qualitative assessment, a cost analysis, and an outcome evaluation through a cohort study. Health Systems 20/20 will carry out the first three components and FHI will conduct the cohort study. Results of the evaluation will be available in early 2011.