Table 1 Project IMPACT: A Model for Increasing the Collaboration between Community-based Organizations and the Public Sector in China

Purpose of the program

A pilot project “Integration Minimum package of Prevention in Accelerating Case finding and Treatment (IMPACT) was carried out in Guangzhou since 2008. The purpose of this project was to increase the collaboration between Community-based Organizations (CBOs) and the public sector in China to provide friendly HIV-related service to men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods of the program

Guangzhou CDC and the Lingnan Partners Community Support Center worked together to design an integrated service including HIV health education, online HIV risk assessment, on-site HIV counseling and testing, partner notification, CD4 cell count testing, psychosocial care and support, and guidance on clinical treatment. This program includes three main parts: online prevention tools, online-to-offline service linkage, and one-stop service.

Online prevention tools: Two internet tools were developed: a scenario-based application and an HIV risk self-assessment system. The scenario-based application is an interactive internet application that simulates real-life HIV risk scenarios, in order to promote HIV testing and condom use. The online HIV risk self-assessment system evaluates an individualized HIV-risk score by evaluating an individual’s risk profile. Based on the results, the system provides tailored guidance to promote HIV testing and behavioral change.

Online-to-offline service linkage: This component linked virtual intervention/testing mobilization efforts to actual HIV testing, and facilitated HIV care. The online prevention tools described above were linked to an online appointment system for HIV testing. Test results were made available online by an anonymous fication system (Easy Tell®)

One-stop shops: In ‘one-stop shops’, public sector staff provided on-site blood sampling and testing and carried out epidemiological investigations. Meanwhile, CBO peers delivered high-quality and timely pre- and post-test counseling, psychosocial support services, guidance on retention to care and ART adherence support services.

Outcomes

The IMPACT model provides services on HIV health education, online HIV risk assessment, on-site HIV counseling and testing, partner notification, CD4 cell count testing, psychosocial care and support, and ART adherence guidance. The number of tests performed through IMPACT has increased from 1,064 in 2008 to 7,754 in 2013. Of the 999 HIV positive cases identified through this project between 2008 and 2013, linkage to care and retention in care rates of 95 and 89 %, respectively [58].

Lessons learned

This public sector-CBO hybrid model has not only addressed the needs of the MSM community, but has also been instrumental in reducing barriers of access to HIV services.