Targeted testing of high risk groups over the years have helped to reduce the overall rates of HIV in Connecticut. As a result, individuals that are unaware of their risk or exposure may be missed. Because HIV is a chronic condition that does not always present with symptoms early in the disease, HIV positive individuals may not present to care until late in the disease. Compared to other states with a range of 4,000-19,999 people living with HIV/AIDS, Connecticut ranked in the 4th quartile for late stage HIV diagnosis among persons aged >=13 years of age in 2011 (CDC State HIV Prevention Progress Report, 2014) Connecticut is working to reduce late diagnoses by 20% as part of the Healthy Connecticut 2020 plan. It is also a US Health and Human Services and CDC objective. Currently to assist with early HIV detection, CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. For those at higher risk , CDC recommends getting tested at least once a year.

These data are current as of January 2022. 2021 data are expected early in 2023. Note: data for 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV testing & care related services. 

Potential Partners:

Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut Department of Correction; Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice; State Department of Education; local public health agencies, public health professional associations; faith-based organizations; laboratories; health care providers including primary care and infectious disease physicians, community health centers, college and university health services , and hospitals; health professional associations; health insurers; pharmaceutical companies; community service agencies that address specific populations such as women, youth, homeless people, communities of color, and LGBT populations; organizations and coalitions focused on HIV/AIDS; schools of public health and medicine; HIV/AIDS research programs and institutes; and others.

As recommended by CDC to advance high-impact prevention, Connecticut has changed it strategy from counseling and testing (in which the client came to the healthcare setting) to outreach, testing and linkage (where counselors are out in the community testing and linking individuals to care). In addition, routine testing is also performed at state-funded HIV testing sites.

Potential Strategies:

*Ensure housing support for persons with HIV/AIDS.

*Promote utilization of partner referral services for HIV-positive individuals.

*Promote condom use among sexually active youths and adults.

*Educate and train providers about routine HIV prevention, screening and treatment; and about CDC guidelines regarding testing and early treatment, referrals to prevention and treatment services, and culturally appropriate prevention, treatment and follow-up interventions.

*Implement routine screening programs to increase early detection of HIV; syringe exchange, drug treatment and other harm reduction measures; interventions to link and retain persons with HIV in care.

*Develop coordinated HIV surveillance, prevention and care data systems

*Explore use of pre-exposure prophylaxis as preventive measure for persons engaging in high-risk behaviors.