Know your HIV status? Know your
partner’s? There’s an app for that. Technology is creeping further and further
into our personal lives, and the question has become, does it make our lives easier or more complicated?
The recently developed app called Chec-Mate allows individuals to search
for testing locations, receive results after the test, and share the results
with a partner. The app complies with all HIPAA regulations, the laws by which
all healthcare professionals are bound. Privacy is maintained by using a unique
username and password. A key advantage of sharing a person’s status using the
app is that it reduces the amount of personal information disclosed with the test
results. The question of ease versus complication remains unanswered. The app
requires registration, and then an individual must have the professional
complete a special verification form at the testing site. The app also requires
a yearly subscription. Since the application is currently only available for
iPhone, it is certainly not usable by everyone who could potentially benefit
from it.
Some people have no qualms about
sharing all of the information displayed on the paper results. Others choose
not to discuss status at all because of fear or unease about how to approach
the subject. At GO Atlanta we are addressing this unease with our online video
series that stresses everyone’s responsibility for talking about sexual health.
If this app encourages dialogue around sexual health while maintaining privacy
I am willing to add it to my list of prevention tools.
What do you think? Why are some
apprehensive about discussing sexual health? Is this app beneficial to anyone,
some, or potentially everyone?
Lucas.Gosdin@aidatlanta.org
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