The Role of Professional Nurses in the Implementation of Index Partner Testing for People Living with HIV at Ramathibodi Hospital
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Abstract
Thailand has demonstrated a strong commitment to reaching the national goal of
ending AIDS, as outlined in the National Strategy to End AIDS 2017–2030. Key to
this effort is the ongoing development and improvement of service delivery
strategies that ensure safety and ethical standards for both healthcare providers
and patients. Based on the 2024 national HIV epidemiological data,
approximately 20% of new HIV cases were among partners of people living with
HIV. This highlights the vital role of index partner testing as a key part of
Thailand’s HIV response. Encouraging partners of HIV-positive individuals to
undergo HIV testing promotes early diagnosis and timely access to care, which
are essential in preventing onward transmission. The need is especially urgent
among high-risk populations, including key groups, sexual partners of people
living with HIV, and adolescents vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections.
Identifying individuals unaware of their HIV status not only helps connect them
to appropriate healthcare services but also accelerates treatment initiation,
reduces new HIV cases, reduces viral spread, and ultimately cuts down AIDS-
related deaths.
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