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Monitoring HIV‐indicator condition guided HIV testing in Estonia
Author(s) -
Rüütel K,
Lemsalu L,
Lätt S
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
hiv medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.53
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1468-1293
pISSN - 1464-2662
DOI - 10.1111/hiv.12586
Subject(s) - medicine , estonian , health care , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , population , family medicine , medical diagnosis , environmental health , philosophy , linguistics , pathology , economics , economic growth
Objectives The aim of the study was to assess indicator condition (IC) guided HIV testing in Estonia from 2012–2015. Methods We used Estonian Health Insurance Fund (EHIF) data. EHIF is the core purchaser of health care services in Estonia, covering health care costs for insured people (94% of the total population). After health care services’ provision, the provider sends an invoice to EHIF, which includes patient information (e.g. age, gender, diagnoses based on ICD‐10) and services provided (e.g. what tests were performed). Results Among the ICs analysed, the highest proportion of patients tested was among those presenting with infectious mononucleosis‐like illness (27–33% of patients) and viral hepatitis (28–32%), the lowest proportion of patients tested was among those presenting with herpes zoster (4–5%) and pneumonia (4–8%). Women were tested somewhat less than men, especially in cases of sexually transmitted infections (9–13% and 18–21%, respectively). Conclusions Our data shows that IC‐guided HIV testing rates are low in Estonia. Therefore, it is critical to follow Estonian HIV testing guidelines, which recommend IC‐guided testing. In general, health insurance data can be used to monitor IC‐guided HIV testing.