Georgia
Key informants
- Maka Gogia, project manager, organization Georgian Harm Reduction Network
- Tamar Zurashvili, communications and administrative specialist, Georgian Harm Reduction Network
Sources of information
- Georgia Law and Policy Analytics (UNAIDS): http://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/country?id=GEO&lan=en
- National Strategic Plan for HIV / AIDS in Georgia 2019-2020: http://www.georgia-ccm.ge/wp-content/uploads/Georgia-HIV-AIDS-National-Strategic-Plan-2019-20222.pdf
References to additional information
- Test registration information: http://drugorders.moh.gov.ge/files/administraciuli_aqtebi_new/25-08-2020/02-1416.pdf
- Online store: http://selftest.ge/products
Situation with HIVST in the country
Are HIV self-testing kits registered in the country?
Yes
http://drugorders.moh.gov.ge/files/administraciuli_aqtebi_new/25-08-2020/02-1416.pdf
http://drugorders.moh.gov.ge/files/administraciuli_aqtebi_new/25-08-2020/02-1416.pdf
What type of tests?
Saliva, blood (available only for KPs)
Sales to the country
5000 Saliva tests has been procured in 2019;
10 800 Saliva tests has been procured in 2020;
7000 are planned for 2021
NCDC GF Program Implementation Unit
10 800 Saliva tests has been procured in 2020;
7000 are planned for 2021
NCDC GF Program Implementation Unit
How many HIV self-testing kits are conducted per year?
800 self-test used/distributed in 2020
Does the protocol for HIV testing include HIV self-testing?
Self Testing is included in the Public Health Guideline/Protocol “HIV/AIDS Surveillance Recommendations” approved by the Minister of Health.
Self-testing is also included in the HIV/AIDS National Strategy document.
Order № 01-461/ო, as of September 18, 2020
HIV/AIDS National Strategy: http://www.georgia-ccm.ge/wp-content/uploads/Georgia-HIV-AIDS-National-Strategic-Plan-2019-20222.pdf
Self-testing is also included in the HIV/AIDS National Strategy document.
Order № 01-461/ო, as of September 18, 2020
HIV/AIDS National Strategy: http://www.georgia-ccm.ge/wp-content/uploads/Georgia-HIV-AIDS-National-Strategic-Plan-2019-20222.pdf
Algorithm of actions after receiving HIV + self-test result
A positive result obtained during self-testing still does not mean that a person is infected with HIV. In such a case it is necessary to conduct further testing in accordance with the testing procedures and strategy in the country. If a confirmatory test confirms a positive self-test, then the service provider should consult the person for further treatment, care and support.
Whether HIV self-testing kits are sold in a pharmacy?
No
Cost
-
Whether HIV self-testing kits are sold online?
Yes
Cost
Free (available only for KPs)
http://selftest.ge/products
http://selftest.ge/products
Projects in the country (last 3 years)
1. Project “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Case Detection in the LGBT Community”(01.01.2020- 31.12.2020). The project is being implemented under the program "Strengthening and Ensuring Sustainability of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care Measures in Georgia" funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The project is implemented by NGO “Equality Movement”.
2. HIV self-testing service at NGO “Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health – Tanadgoma” (since March 2020), within a program funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - “Strengthening and Ensuring Sustainability of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care activities in Georgia” (GEO-H-NCDC Grant).
3. Project: Strengthening HIV prevention activities for high risk populations (FSWs and MSM)
HIV self-testing package (SAFE BOX) 4 return options are offered. If the beneficiary does not respond within 3 days, the social worker contacts him / her by phone, of which the beneficiary is informed in advance.
Geographical coverage:
HIV self-testing service is provided in 5 cities, namely: Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Telavi.
Target groups:
- MSM
- Trans* population
- Female Sex Workers (including Transgender Female Sex Workers)
Ways to provide HIV self-testing services:
Tanadgoma provides services both during the office visit and through outreach and online outreach. Accordingly, ways of delivering HIV self-test tests include office visits and outreach work (the main way to deliver SAFEBOXs during the COVID pandemic is through home delivery)
Results and future plans
During the period of March, 2020 - October, 2020, 1733 HIV self-test kits were distributed to MSM, FSWs/TGFSWs and trans* population, with all responses returning, both negative and positive.
Based on the experience gained, Tanadgoma plans to expand its work on various online thematic portals in 2021 and increase the coverage of women involved in the sex business and their partners, MSM and trans* individuals.
2. HIV self-testing service at NGO “Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health – Tanadgoma” (since March 2020), within a program funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - “Strengthening and Ensuring Sustainability of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care activities in Georgia” (GEO-H-NCDC Grant).
3. Project: Strengthening HIV prevention activities for high risk populations (FSWs and MSM)
HIV self-testing package (SAFE BOX) 4 return options are offered. If the beneficiary does not respond within 3 days, the social worker contacts him / her by phone, of which the beneficiary is informed in advance.
Geographical coverage:
HIV self-testing service is provided in 5 cities, namely: Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Telavi.
Target groups:
- MSM
- Trans* population
- Female Sex Workers (including Transgender Female Sex Workers)
Ways to provide HIV self-testing services:
Tanadgoma provides services both during the office visit and through outreach and online outreach. Accordingly, ways of delivering HIV self-test tests include office visits and outreach work (the main way to deliver SAFEBOXs during the COVID pandemic is through home delivery)
Results and future plans
During the period of March, 2020 - October, 2020, 1733 HIV self-test kits were distributed to MSM, FSWs/TGFSWs and trans* population, with all responses returning, both negative and positive.
Based on the experience gained, Tanadgoma plans to expand its work on various online thematic portals in 2021 and increase the coverage of women involved in the sex business and their partners, MSM and trans* individuals.
Country studies (last 3 years)
Operational research of HIV self-testing acceptability among MSM and PWID in Georgia was conducted under The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund) funded regional project “Sustainability of Services for Key Populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” (“SoS Project).
Implementing organization: GHRN
Location: Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia and regions. Data collection sites included 12 regional sites of Georgia delivering harm reduction services to PWIDs (Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Poti, Borjomi, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Telavi, Rustavi, Samtredia, Ozurgeti), as well as community based organization Equality Movement and Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health “Tanadgoma” working with MSM population in Tbilisi, Batumi, Zugdidi and Kutaisi.
The study had both quantitative and qualitative components.
The quantitative study involved distribution of self-test kits to MSM and PWID. Two types of self-test kits were used - blood and saliva (both were donated by the manufacturers for the research purposes). Two weeks later the study participants were contacted for a small follow up survey to assess the acceptability of self-testing, as well as linkages to care services.
MSM and PWID with self-reported HIV negative or unknown statuses were selected for the study.
Within the qualitative component of the research, respondents participating in both stages of the quantitative survey (baseline and follow-up) took part in in-depth interviews (IDIs) on their experiences, attitudes and practices and asked to explore additional factors associated with self-testing and linkage to care.
For the IDIs study participants were consecutively selected from the pool of quantitative study participants of each group: MSM and PWID. During the follow up communications, respondents were asked to participate in IDIs. Those who agreed to share additional details on their experience of the self-testing approach were recruited for participation in the IDIs. The participants were recruited and interviews conducted until saturation of information was obtained.
Main Results: Generally, acceptance rates were very high (especially among PWID but also MSM). Around 80-90% of participants found the instructions easy to follow, and the test easy and convenient to use. 89,2% of MSM and 94,4% of PWID would use HIVST again in future. The oral fluid test scored a bit higher in acceptability than the blood based test kit. Among the 785 participants who agreed to participate in the follow up post-test questionnaire, 719 (91.6%) indicated that their HIVST results were negative. 4.9% of MSM and 1.5% of PWID tested positive. 3.4% (16 MSM and 11 PWID) refused to disclose their status. 1.8% stated that they don’t know the results of their tests and most of them did not provide any reason. 12 (48%) out of 25 participants who tested positive stated that they have taken the HIV confirmatory test. 5 (20%) plan to take it in the near future. Only 2 (8%) participants who tested positive said they don’t plan to take the confirmatory test, one due to fear and the other one due to the distrust of the HIVST results. 6 participants (24%) did not answer the question regarding taking the confirmatory test.
Currently, it is planned to expand the self-testing online platform and cover PWID and CSW along with MSM populations.
Implementing organization: GHRN
Location: Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia and regions. Data collection sites included 12 regional sites of Georgia delivering harm reduction services to PWIDs (Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Poti, Borjomi, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Telavi, Rustavi, Samtredia, Ozurgeti), as well as community based organization Equality Movement and Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health “Tanadgoma” working with MSM population in Tbilisi, Batumi, Zugdidi and Kutaisi.
The study had both quantitative and qualitative components.
The quantitative study involved distribution of self-test kits to MSM and PWID. Two types of self-test kits were used - blood and saliva (both were donated by the manufacturers for the research purposes). Two weeks later the study participants were contacted for a small follow up survey to assess the acceptability of self-testing, as well as linkages to care services.
MSM and PWID with self-reported HIV negative or unknown statuses were selected for the study.
Within the qualitative component of the research, respondents participating in both stages of the quantitative survey (baseline and follow-up) took part in in-depth interviews (IDIs) on their experiences, attitudes and practices and asked to explore additional factors associated with self-testing and linkage to care.
For the IDIs study participants were consecutively selected from the pool of quantitative study participants of each group: MSM and PWID. During the follow up communications, respondents were asked to participate in IDIs. Those who agreed to share additional details on their experience of the self-testing approach were recruited for participation in the IDIs. The participants were recruited and interviews conducted until saturation of information was obtained.
Main Results: Generally, acceptance rates were very high (especially among PWID but also MSM). Around 80-90% of participants found the instructions easy to follow, and the test easy and convenient to use. 89,2% of MSM and 94,4% of PWID would use HIVST again in future. The oral fluid test scored a bit higher in acceptability than the blood based test kit. Among the 785 participants who agreed to participate in the follow up post-test questionnaire, 719 (91.6%) indicated that their HIVST results were negative. 4.9% of MSM and 1.5% of PWID tested positive. 3.4% (16 MSM and 11 PWID) refused to disclose their status. 1.8% stated that they don’t know the results of their tests and most of them did not provide any reason. 12 (48%) out of 25 participants who tested positive stated that they have taken the HIV confirmatory test. 5 (20%) plan to take it in the near future. Only 2 (8%) participants who tested positive said they don’t plan to take the confirmatory test, one due to fear and the other one due to the distrust of the HIVST results. 6 participants (24%) did not answer the question regarding taking the confirmatory test.
Currently, it is planned to expand the self-testing online platform and cover PWID and CSW along with MSM populations.
Information and media campaigns to promote HIV self-testing (last 3 years)
Information campaign within the framework of the project “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Case Detection in the LGBT Community” was carried out to popularize self-testing.
http://selftest.ge
http://selftest.ge
Project Plans / Campaigns / HIV self-testing studies 2021 and beyond
Project: “Providing access to HIV self-testing services and HIV prevention packages for key populations of HIV-infected in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic,” funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. The project will be implemented by the public organization "Movement for Equality". The service will be available in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Zugdidi, as well as in other places, depending on the needs. The aim of this project is to expand the capacity to provide self-testing, prevention and service packages for key populations of HIV-infected people (PWID, SWs, MSM and trans * populations), as well as to provide HIV / AIDS prevention packages for PLHIV through remote / contactless services. At least 595 packages (self-test and / or preventive package) will be delivered during the project during the contract period. Delivery models will be developed in consultation with service providers in the regions. The number of beneficiaries and the corresponding form of delivery will be determined. Parcels will be delivered via Glovo couriers to the cities in which the service operates, while alternative delivery models will be developed elsewhere.Based on the operational principles and approaches, and with integration into the current target platform (www.selftest.ge), a single electronic self-test platform will be developed / updated and deployed, adapted to the needs of different HIV risk groups (for a minimum of 1 year). Selected information materials targeting high-risk groups will be prepared and, if necessary, printed. The implementation of these measures is scheduled for 2021.