Guest guest Posted January 20, 2001 Report Share Posted January 20, 2001 o, At Migrant Health Promotion, we have a group of Promotoras who next week are going to begin doing testing and counseling using Orasure in the colonias here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The Orasure is easy to learn to use. The minimal paraphenalia it requires makes it convenient to use in mobile settings. I'd be happy to share our experiences with you once it gets under way. Dara Winfield >From: o Astorga <manchego99@...> >Reply- egroups > egroups >Subject: [ ] Orasure >Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 15:03:41 -0800 (PST) > >Hello! >My name is o AStorga. I work as a health >educator. I need information about the ORA SURE. >I am planning to implement anonymous HIV testing at >the camps this summer. > >Thank you! > > > >===== > >Namaste! > > > > > > >__________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2001 Report Share Posted January 23, 2001 I'm wondering what other perspectives are on testing migrant farmworkers with Orasure. I've been involved with health education and migrant farmworkers for years and would like to hear what others are doing with HIV screening. While there is certainly a need for education with HIV/STD's, I'm wondering if health screenings for a chronic disease in a population with low prevalence is the right approach? The last studies that I have seen indicate that with the exception of very small pockets(the Belle Glade study) rates of HIV infection are extremely low among migrant farm workers. Would the money with be better spent on something else? Like screening higher risk patients ( prostitutes, rug abusers, etc.)? Even if the test is extremely good, it's still not 100%. The lower the rate of prevalence, the the higher the risk of false negatives and positives. Secondly, there are issues with insuring that the results match the patient. Are most of the clients likely to give their real name for a test like HIV that can have legal implications? Is the same person likely to have the same alias as before? We had many patients never get their results before because we couldn't accurately match anonymous numbers from the patients records and our records. Also when a client/patient has a positive result will there be treatment options? As you know the current retroviral standard of care is extremely expensive. Patients that earn the wages that migrants do can hardly afford it. Are their state programs tin place that will pay for medicines of undocumented workers? We have enormous problems getting diabetes medicine to patients that can't afford it, antivirals can cost up to a $1,000/month. Is there any negative impact in the community if they're singled out for HIV screenings? What about the rest of the community. Are we reinforcing the notion that migrants have and spread diseases? Anyway, just a few thoughts on this important topic. I agree that all migrants deserve education about about this topic. I personally favor education for all, and then only selective screening based on risk factors and of course, symptoms. I wonder if there are any recent studies documenting the rate of infection? What about Hepatitis B? What are other thoughts about this important topic? Wilton Kennedy MDuke@... wrote: > o, > We use the Orasure at our organization, the Hispanic Heath Council, and it > has worked very well. Orasure is an HIV testing system that involves a > client holding a swab-like device against their cheek for a minute or so. > The devices are then sent to a lab and results are returned within 1-2 > weeks. It's definitely easier, not to mention less painful and intrusive, > than blood draws. The results are apparently 99% reliable, which compares > favorably with blood-based testing. I would highly recommend it. > Best, > Duke > > -----Original Message----- > From: o Astorga [sMTP:manchego99@...] > Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 6:04 PM > egroups > Subject: [ ] Orasure > > Hello! > My name is o AStorga. I work as a health > educator. I need information about the ORA SURE. > I am planning to implement anonymous HIV testing at > the camps this summer. > > Thank you! > > ===== > > Namaste! > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2001 Report Share Posted January 24, 2001 Thank you Wilton for providing your perspective on this issue. I agree with your comments. I would add culturally competent and linguistically appropriate prevention education on all STDs, including HIV, along with the distribution of plenty of condoms (both for oral and vaginal/anal sex), and water-based lubricants, etc., and just as important skills training on how to use condoms correctly. I would particularly target men who are traveling/migrating solo and focus on education that protects him, his sex partner(s) including sex workers, and especially his wife or significant other who may be waiting for his return in Mexico or wherever. I would also be certain to cover the issue of sexual relationships with other men. Some Latino men do have sex with other men, particularly under the influence of alcohol. By the way this doesn't mean that I would exclude women, however we are seeing large numbers of men traveling solo--particularly young men. Adolfo Mata Bureau of Primary Health Care -----Original Message----- From: Kennedy [mailto:wkennedy@...] Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2001 3:45 PM egroups Subject: [ ] Orasure I'm wondering what other perspectives are on testing migrant farmworkers with Orasure. I've been involved with health education and migrant farmworkers for years and would like to hear what others are doing with HIV screening. While there is certainly a need for education with HIV/STD's, I'm wondering if health screenings for a chronic disease in a population with low prevalence is the right approach? The last studies that I have seen indicate that with the exception of very small pockets(the Belle Glade study) rates of HIV infection are extremely low among migrant farm workers. Would the money with be better spent on something else? Like screening higher risk patients ( prostitutes, rug abusers, etc.)? Even if the test is extremely good, it's still not 100%. The lower the rate of prevalence, the the higher the risk of false negatives and positives. Secondly, there are issues with insuring that the results match the patient. Are most of the clients likely to give their real name for a test like HIV that can have legal implications? Is the same person likely to have the same alias as before? We had many patients never get their results before because we couldn't accurately match anonymous numbers from the patients records and our records. Also when a client/patient has a positive result will there be treatment options? As you know the current retroviral standard of care is extremely expensive. Patients that earn the wages that migrants do can hardly afford it. Are their state programs tin place that will pay for medicines of undocumented workers? We have enormous problems getting diabetes medicine to patients that can't afford it, antivirals can cost up to a $1,000/month. Is there any negative impact in the community if they're singled out for HIV screenings? What about the rest of the community. Are we reinforcing the notion that migrants have and spread diseases? Anyway, just a few thoughts on this important topic. I agree that all migrants deserve education about about this topic. I personally favor education for all, and then only selective screening based on risk factors and of course, symptoms. I wonder if there are any recent studies documenting the rate of infection? What about Hepatitis B? What are other thoughts about this important topic? Wilton Kennedy MDuke@... wrote: > o, > We use the Orasure at our organization, the Hispanic Heath Council, and it > has worked very well. Orasure is an HIV testing system that involves a > client holding a swab-like device against their cheek for a minute or so. > The devices are then sent to a lab and results are returned within 1-2 > weeks. It's definitely easier, not to mention less painful and intrusive, > than blood draws. The results are apparently 99% reliable, which compares > favorably with blood-based testing. I would highly recommend it. > Best, > Duke > > -----Original Message----- > From: o Astorga [sMTP:manchego99@...] > Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 6:04 PM > egroups > Subject: [ ] Orasure > > Hello! > My name is o AStorga. I work as a health > educator. I need information about the ORA SURE. > I am planning to implement anonymous HIV testing at > the camps this summer. > > Thank you! > > ===== > > Namaste! > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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