Mobile Screening Unit (MSU) for the Implementation of the 'Screen and Treat' Programme for Cervical Cancer Prevention In Pune, India.

OBJECTIVES: We are reporting the evaluation of an opportunistic point of care cervical cancer screening initiative in Pune, India using a mobile screening unit (MSU). METHODS: We conducted 290 cervical cancer screening outreach clinics in the MSU. Screening was performed by trained nurses/ health care providers using visual inspection with 5% acetic acid (VIA). Screen positive women when eligible were treated by thermal ablation during the same sitting. Women with large lesions not eligible for treatment with thermal ablation were referred for colposcopy and treatment. RESULTS: A total of 10, 925 women were screened between Nov 2016 and June 2019 in 290 outreach clinics in the MSU. The overall screen positivity was 6.6% (95% CI 6.1, 7.0) with a declining trend over time. A total of 304/717 (42.4%, 95% CI 38.7, 46.1) women received treatment with thermal ablation. About 3.6% (11/304) reported minor side effects and 1.6% (5/304) reported lower abdominal pain and all of them subsided after treatment.  Among the 413 women who were advised colposcopy, only 84 (20.33%) women underwent the procedure. Of these 84 women, 64 (76.19%) had normal colposcopy/ histopathology, 7 (8.33%) had CIN1, 2 (2.38%) had CIN 2, 9 (10.71%) had CIN 3 disease and 2 (2.38%) women were diagnosed with invasive cancer. CONCLUSION: MSUs are useful for providing cervical cancer screening services, using the 'screen and treat' strategy.  Thermal ablation is safe in the field clinics. Additional efforts are needed to improve the compliance for referral of those with large lesions requiring additional visits.

Increase in condom use and decline in prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among high-risk men who have sex with men and transgender persons in Maharashtra, India: Avahan, the India AIDS Initiative.

BACKGROUND: The present study assessed coverage, changes in condom use, and prevalence of HIV and other STIs among high-risk men who have sex with men (HR-MSM; highly visible, recruited from cruising sites/sex venues) and transgender (TG; male-to-female transgender persons, also called hijras) in the Indian state of Maharashtra. METHODS: Data from Avahan's computerized management information system; two rounds of integrated behavioral and biological assessment (IBBA) surveys (Round 1 with 653 HR-MSM/TG and Round 2 with 652 HR-MSM/TG); and project-supported condom social marketing was used for the present analysis. Logistic regression models were used to assess changes in key indicators over these two rounds and to explore the association between exposure to Avahan interventions and condom use and STI prevalence in HR-MSM/TG. RESULTS: By December 2007, Avahan had reached about 90% of the estimated HR-MSM/TG population, and 83% of the estimated total population had visited STI clinics by March 2009. Free direct condom distribution by Avahan program NGOs and social marketing outlets in Maharashtra increased from about 2.7 million condoms in 2004 to 15.4 million in 2008. HR-MSM/TG were more likely to report higher consistent condom use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-3.58) with regular male partners (spouse/lover/boyfriend) in Round 2 of IBBA, compared to Round 1. HR-MSM/TG exposed to Avahan interventions were more likely to report consistent condom use with regular male partners (AOR: 2.46; CI 1.34-4.52) than those who were unexposed. Prevalence of reactive syphilis serology declined significantly from 8.8% in Round 1 to 1.1% in Round 2 (p = 0.001), while the observed change HIV prevalence (12.3% to 6.3%, p = 0.16) was insignificant. CONCLUSION: The current evaluation provides evidence for successful scale up and coverage of target population by Avahan interventions in Maharashtra. The assessment findings showed improved accessibility to condoms and reduced risk behaviours with male sexual partners. Syphilis prevalence declined; however HIV prevalence did not change and is still a major concern. Continued strengthening of core programmatic strategies are needed to effectively improve condom use with all partner types and to help bring sustained reductions in HIV risk in HR-MSM/TG and its onward transmission.

Targeted interventions of the Avahan program and their association with intermediate outcomes among female sex workers in Maharashtra, India.

BACKGROUND: Avahan, the India AIDS Initiative has been a partner supporting targeted interventions of high risk populations under India's National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) since 2004 in the state of Maharashtra. This paper presents an assessment of the Avahan program among female sex workers (FSWs) in Maharashtra, its coverage, outcomes achieved and their association with Avahan program. METHODS: An analytical framework based on the Avahan evaluation design was used, addressing assessment questions on program implementation, intermediate outcomes and association of outcomes with Avahan. Data from routine program monitoring, two rounds of cross-sectional Integrated Behavioural and Biological Assessments (IBBAs) conducted in 2006 (Round 1- R1) and 2009 (Round 2 - R2) and quality assessments of program clinics were used. Bi-variate and multivariate analysis were conducted using the complex samples module in SPSS 15 (IBM, Somers NY). RESULTS: The Avahan program achieved coverage of over 66% of FSWs within four years of implementation. The IBBA data showed increased contact by peers in R2 compared to R1 (AOR:2.34; p=0.001). Reported condom use with clients increased in R2 and number of FSWs reporting zero unprotected sex acts increased from 76.2% (R1) to 94.6% (R2) [AOR: 5.1, p=0.001].Significant declines were observed in prevalence of syphilis (RPR) (15.8% to 10.8%; AOR:0.54; p=0.001), chlamydia (8% to 6.2%; AOR:.0.65; p=0.010) and gonorrohoea (7.4% to 3.9; AOR:.0.60; p=0.026) between R1 and R2. HIV prevalence increased (25.8% to 27.5%; AOR:1.29; p=0.04). District-wise analysis showed decline in three districts and increase in Mumbai and Thane districts.FSWs exposed to Avahan had higher consistent condom use with occasional (94.3% vs. 90.6%; AOR: 1.55; p=0.04) and regular clients (92.5% vs. 86.0%; AOR: 1.95, p=0.001) compared to FSWs unexposed to Avahan. Decline in high titre syphilis was associated with Avahan exposure. CONCLUSION: The Avahan program was scaled up and achieved high coverage of FSWs in Maharashtra amidst multiple intervention players. Avahan coverage of FSWs was associated with improved safe sexual practices and declines in STIs. Prevalence of HIV increased requiring more detailed understanding of the data and, if confirmed, new approaches for HIV control.