Project H.E.A.R.T
Janet Sheridan
SC Family Planning Program
Division of Women and Children's
Services
OBJECTIVE
Exchange of knowledge related to
successes/challenges met with the
integration of HIV/AIDS and
reproductive health services
Project H.E.A.R.T.
 H-HIV
 E-Education
 A-And
 R-Routine
 T-Testing
Where?
 Charleston, South Carolina
 Serving patients from 3 counties-Berkeley,
Dorchester and Charleston
 Staff includes: RN (project manager),
Disease Investigation Specialist (DIS),
Administrative Support, Health Educator
Who do we serve?
 Large Population of sexually active women
of childbearing ability, their unborn children
and their sexual partners.
Our Goal
 CDC reports that 25% of people with HIV
are unaware of their status.
 Our goal is simple: Increase the number of
women and men that know their status.
Why Public Health Clinics?
 Public Health Clinics represent one of only a
few possible health care delivery sites
available to uninsured or underinsured
women and men.
Women Served
3500
3000
2500
2000
# of female users
1500
1000
500
0
2004
2005
2006
Women by Race
1982
H
/S
64
N
th
er
O
is
pa
ni
c
155
W
hi
te
Bl
ac
k
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Region 7 Num ber of Users by Race
2005-2006
4759
4390
Number of users by Hispanic/NonHispanic and Age
2005-2006
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
U
nd
er
15
15
-1
7
18
-1
9
20
-2
4
25
-2
9
30
-3
4
35
-3
9
40
-4
4
45
-4
9
50
+
0
Day to Day Activities
 30-40 women are assessed at Northwoods per day
 Extended hours: Mon-Thur 8a-6:30p
Friday- 8-5
One Saturday per month 8-5
 Male family planning services Tues/Thurs 8-6:30
 HIV testing by appointment or walk-in
Pregnancy Testing and
HIV Testing
 2005


1485 pregnancy tests performed
599 (40%) positive
 2006


2104 pregnancy tests performed
830 (39%) positive
Successes

Pre-Grant

Less than 5% tested

Closest free HIV test was
15 miles away

Male partners not able to be
tested

Difficult to provide HIV
counseling in community
d/t lack of trained staff and
limited resources

Current

Apx. 76% of women were
tested in 2006

On site HIV testing

209 Men tested for HIV
last year

Networking with Father-toFather Project, Mason’s,
It’s Up to Me Project,
Dept. of Social Services,
College fraternity and
sororities and faith-based
organizations
Successes
 Pre-Grant
 Agency required
cultural competency
training
 Message for men: Use
condoms/get him tested
and/or treated
 Current
 Optimal customer
service skills specific to
African American and
Hispanic population
 Men’s reproductive
health needs and
concerns addressed
 300 males participated
in male reproductive
health services project
Successes
 Pre-grant
 SC HHNA
demonstrated that the
Hispanic population in
SC lacked adequate
health care information
r/t HIV and experience
restricted access to care
 Current
 Approximately 55% of
all HIV tests during
grant year 3 were
provided to Hispanic
enrolled clients
Successes
 Pre-Grant


HIV testing only for
“high risk” clients
Rarely offered/provided
HIV testing to patients
presenting for a
pregnancy test
 Current
 Utilizing CDC
recommended opt-out
HIV testing
 Routine part of
women’s health care
 Test high percentage of
women who come in
for a pregnancy test
Minimizing Barriers to Full
Implementation
 Staffing
 Training/Education
 Language/Reading
 Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
 Clinic Flow