Social workers communicate not only with a client who has recently been diagnosed with HIV, but also with his or her close environment. Specialists find out information about family members, sexual or injection partners.
“We talk to the client about his close environment. If desired, people living with HIV voice a list of those who had a risk of becoming infected. We do this in order to offer them an HIV test as well. This is index testing,” said social worker Daria Koretska.
During the conversation with Anna (name changed), Daria identified only one person who should be tested for HIV. This is Anna's husband. However, the woman was afraid to talk to him about this topic.
“I was scared to tell him I had HIV. I didn't know how to explain it. I was afraid of his reaction,” Anna shared her experiences.
The social worker offered the woman this option: to come with her husband to her for a consultation and discuss all the questions that will arise regarding the disease and testing. Anna agreed.
Daria conducted a pre-test consultation for her husband and answered his questions.
The result of the husband was also positive. The social worker accompanied the couple. They work together to accept the diagnosis and form a commitment to treatment.
You can find the address of the nearest test point here:https://testporuch.phc.org.ua/
