Tuyển tập các nghiên cứu khoa học của trường đại học Huế đề tài: Sự tham gia của khu vực tư nhân trong phòng chống HIV / AIDS tại Việt Nam - Một mô hình hợp tác công-tư nhân (PPP): tăng cường tiếp cận với các dịch vụ sti nhất ở các mức rủi ro (MARPS). | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE Hue University N0 61 2010 INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE SECTOR IN HIV AIDS PREVENTION IN VIETNAM - A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PPP MODEL INCREASE ACCESS TO STI SERVICES OF THE MOST AT RISK POPULATION MARPS Pham Duc Minh Nguyen Chien Thang Ton van der Velden Le Ngoc Bao Pathfinder International Viet Nam Mai Hoang Anh Prevention of AIDS and TB Centre SUMMARY Introduction Having sexual transmitted infection STI increases the risk of HIV infection. The MARPs identified as female sex workers FSWs and intravenous drug users IDUs have limited access to STI services lack of knowledge and awareness on need for STI HIV related services financial difficulties and more importantly fear of stigma or even legal sanction are main barriers. Literature sugested that MARPs preferred STI services provided at private sector in order to secure privacy and confidentiality. Methodology The intervention project developed and piloted a voucher scheme for the MARPs to use STI services at 9 assigned private clinics in 4 districts ofAn Giang province. The Provincial Center for AIDS and TB Control PATC through peer educator network provided vouchers for MARPs for free STI examination and treatment and HIV counseling services. District health centers managed the operation of voucher scheme made payment to private providers and reported to PATC. Results Over 9 months ofpiloting a total of1 806 vouchers were used and proportion of return vouchers increased over months from 27 in the first to 72 in the last. Voucher users reported satisfaction with quality of services improved knowledge on STI HIV and awareness on need for services. Conclusions To increase accessibility of MARPs to HIV prevention programs involvement of the private health sector is indispensable voucher scheme is an appropriate approach which can be replicated. Implications of the pilots results on a PPP model to provide health services to hard-to-reach population will be further explored and discussed. Key words .
