National HIV Prevention Conference Atlanta, Georgia, USA — July 27 - 30, 2003

Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 July 27-30:abstract no. M1-D1601
Burr CK, Gross E, Storm D, Thompson C, Boudreaux N
FXB Center, Univ of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ, Newark, NJ

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:: Since 1994, the incidence of perinatal HIV transmission has decreased dramatically. Despite national guidelines recommending routine prenatal HIV counseling and testing (C&T;) of pregnant women, C&T; is not yet universal. Various strategies have been tried to increase knowledge of healthcare providers (HCP) about the importance of routine C&T; in prenatal settings. This study examines the implementation of a train-the-trainer or faculty training (FT) model developed to increase maternal/child health and HIV providers' knowledge about HIV counseling and testing of pregnant women and strategies to reduce perinatal HIV infection.

METHODS: The National Pediatric & Family HIV Resource Center (NPHRC) developed a comprehensive curriculum/slide set using didactic and interactive strategies as well as provider and consumer educational materials. Working with AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs) and local agencies in Mississippi (MS) and three other states/jurisdictions, NPHRC offered half-day faculty-training (FT) workshops for 214 participants -- physicians, nurses, and social workers willing to train their colleagues.

RESULTS: In MS, 20/70 FT participants agreed to be trainers and, over the next 2 years, gave 21 presentations reaching 403 HCP participants. In the other 3 states, 49/123 FT participants agreed to be trainers and gave 10 presentations to 235 HCP participants. For both FT participants and the HCPs trainees, their perceptions of their skills and abilities from pre to post-workshop increased significantly (p<.001) in all content areas across all states. Six-month follow-up surveys of FT participants and HCP trainees demonstrated changes in practice including increased counseling, testing, and referrals. The MS project resulted in a greater number of presentations given and HCPs trained by FT participants than the other 3 sites combined. Keys to successful sustainability of the FT model in MS were: active participation of the local HIV experts as faculty trainers, training teams that included experts and local providers, ongoing support from the AETC, involving local stakeholders, and building on existing networks.

CONCLUSIONS: A FT model can be used to effectively increase knowledge and change practice of HCPs to reduce perinatal HIV transmission. Successful implementation and maintenance of an FT model on prevention of perinatal transmission requires ongoing support by local HIV experts and local educators to sustain clinicians as trainers. With support from the U.S.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Cooperative Agreement #R62/CCR217856-03.Contents of this presentation are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.

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M1-D1601

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