Removing barriers to testing for HIV/STI/HCV

• Research unit: SFOPH
• Project number: 142006400

Key words (German)

HIV/STI-Screening, Screeningstrategie, Franchisebefreiung, Epidemiologie, Kostenfolgen

Key words (French)

Dépistage VIH/IST, stratégie de dépistage, exemption de la franchise, épidémiologie, conséquences financières

Short description (English)

Given a rising number of infections of sexually transmitted infections in Switzerland, this modelling study was undertaken to identify optimal screening strategies for reducing HIV, HCV (Hepatitis C virus), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and syphilis incidence and to inform official guidelines. A Markov model was developed to evaluate the impact of various screening strategies over five years among key target groups, including men who have sex with men, female sex workers, and people who inject drugs. The effectiveness of screening interventions was assessed by measuring reductions in disease incidence and cost savings, comparing the costs of screening (with and without a franchise waiver) to those of acute and chronic care. Increased screening leads to a reduction in incidence for all five infections under study, but only screening for HIV, HCV, and syphilis was found to be cost saving.

Short description (French)

L'étude de modélisation vise à identifier la meilleure stratégie de dépistage (en termes de groupes cibles à tester et de fréquence de dépistage la plus efficace) pour réduire l'incidence du VIH, de l’hépatite C, de la gonorrhée, de la chlamydia et de la syphilis en Suisse. Parallèlement, le modèle quantifie également les conséquences financières de telles stratégies.

Follow up (French)

Pour toute question, s adresser à :

Guido Biscontin
Office fédéral de la santé publique
UD Prévention et services de santé
Division Maladies transmissibles
Section Prévention et promotion
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003 Berne

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