TITLE:
A Review of Index Case Testing Induced Intimate Partner Violence and Electronic Management of Information in HIV Care
AUTHORS:
Tihnje Abena Mbah, Ajeh Rogers, Nguetti Joseph Honoré Honoré, Luc Einstein Ngend
KEYWORDS:
Intimate Partner Violence, Index Case Testing, Electronic HIV Patient Information
JOURNAL NAME:
E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks,
Vol.12 No.4,
October
10,
2023
ABSTRACT: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a form of Gender Base Violence (GBV) where an intimate partner perpetrates violence. In the HIV care continua which has the aim of achieving epidemic control based on the goals defined by UNAIDS, 95% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) have to know their HIV status, 95% initiated ARV treatment and 95% are virally suppressed in order to achieve epidemic control. One of the evidence-based strategies used for achieving an optimal number of PLHIV who know their HIV status is the Index Case Testing Strategy (ICT). While the ICT strategy helps the achievement of epidemic control, its implementation increases the incidence of IPV among either serodiscordant or concordant couples. Tackling information about IPV is very sensitive. A review of the literature on the management of HIV patient information has shown that shifting from paper-based management of HIV patient information to computerized Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems, using software such as OPEN MRS has significantly improved the management of HIV patient information with high-level confidentiality of patient information. The reviews showed that the EMR systems put in place to manage HIV patient information need to integrate the stages used for the management of IPV among PLHIV.