The second round of the IWWIT test weeks starts in October. The aim is to encourage gay men to take an HIV test so that they can start treatment in good time if necessary. The results of the 2009 test weeks show that this works: It works.
Preparations are underway: The ICH WEISS WAS ICH TU (IWWIT) test weeks are entering their second round in autumn. From 1 October to 31 November, there will be opportunities to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in over 50 German cities as part of the campaign - in major cities as well as in rural regions. Many of the testing programmes are taking place in the gay scene.
The test weeks are primarily intended to motivate those who have never had an HIV test or have not been tested for some time to get tested and receive counselling. There are good reasons for this: A quarter to a third of HIV-positive people in Germany do not know that they are infected.
Today, it is very important to find out about the infection as early as possible. Only those who start treatment in good time can make optimum use of the medical possibilities of HIV therapies and prevent damage to the immune system.
If as many people as possible know about their status, this also helps to ensure that HIV is transmitted less frequently.
In order to reach as many men as possible, new, rather atypical testing locations are being tried out alongside AIDS service centres and health authorities. Last year, 20 of the total of 531 test offers took place directly where men have sex with men: in cruising car parks or in gay saunas.
The results of the 2009 test weeks show that this concept is working: one fifth of the participants were tested for HIV for the first time. In total, more than 2500 HIV tests were carried out. 66 of the tests were positive.
49 per cent of gay or bisexual participants opted for rapid tests. The offer is therefore to be expanded during the 2010 test weeks. (Information on the topic of rapid testing is available here.)
At the same time, tests for other sexually transmitted infections such as hepatitis and syphilis are being offered again. Such diseases increase the likelihood of contracting HIV or passing on the virus. Syphilis in particular has a considerable influence on the incidence of infection in Germany. And of course the following also applies to syphilis & co: early detection means averted danger.
Another aim is to reach men who are particularly at risk of HIV infection, for example because they have often had risky sex in the past year. The aim is to target men who have not had good access to testing and counselling services because they are less educated and know too little about HIV.
The IWWIT test weeks are set to improve in this area in 2010: People with a low level of education were clearly under-reached in 2009: 68 per cent of test participants had A-levels.
(Philip Eicker)
Friday on iwwit.de: Times are changing - 25 years of HIV testing in Germany
