October 27, 2021
Completed Projects
Full name of project: Behavioral Insights for Low Uptake of HIV Testing in Georgia
- Project duration: September 2021 – September 2022
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Project Partners: Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) Georgia, UNDP Georgia, UNFPA Georgia, Tanadgoma
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Description: Although with its 8 765 registered cases of HIV infection, Georgia belongs to HIV/AIDS low prevalence countries, the rapid spread of the disease is expected in the near future unless urgent measures are undertaken immediately – estimates indicate that approximately 40% of infected persons are not aware of their HIV positive status. Unfortunately, the uptake of testing services remains low, increasing the risk of further transmission and deteriorating quality of life of the people with late diagnosis. With the specific objective to increase HIV testing uptake in Georgia, the project will provide resources for evidence-based policy making related to HIV testing, will increase capacities of health professionals to provide stigma-free confidential and trustworthy counseling to youth, and will prepare tailored, behaviorally informed messages with the potential to increase awareness and motivation of people to conduct HIV testing. As the specific innovation, the project will launch a Randomized Controlled Trial testing various behaviorally determined messages, the results of which will be shared with relevant state institutions to design and roll out nation-wide scale-up to increase uptake of HIV testing in the country. All of that will be done based on Czech know-how and expertise sharing. Czech experience will be strong especially in evidence-based policymaking and will build on the progress already achieved through "Experts on Demand" program under Czech-UNDP Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals.
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Project Results: Resources for evidence-based policy making related to HIV testing prepared and handed-over to National Center for Disease Control & Public Health, Georgia (NCDC); Capacities of health professionals to provide stigma-free counseling on HIV self-testing increased; Messages with the potential to increase awareness and motivation of people to conduct HIV self-testing created and tested.
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Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, UNDP/CUP
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Budget: 54 770 USD
