KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO HIV/TB/HCV AMONG PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THE INTEGRATED SCREENING IN KVEMO KARTLI REGION

Integration of TB/HIV/HCV screening into primary health care has been implemented in Georgia since 2018. The aim of the program is to strengthen TB, HIV/HCV screening and early detection capabilities in the primary health care, as early detection and treatment are considered to be the most effective strategies to prevent these infections. The goal of the study was to evaluate and compare the baseline and follow-up knowledge about TB, HIV and HCV infectious among primary health care workers in Kvemo Kartli Region. The study instrument was a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 459 primary HCWs from Kvemo Kartli region were surveyed. The proportion of HCWs correctly knowing MDR TB definition increased from 34.6% to 82.8% and this difference was statistically significant (p