HIV voluntary counselling and testing in Nakuru, Kenya: findings from a community survey.

Objectives HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is important for prevention, detection and treatment of HIV infection. A study was conducted to determine the extent of utilization of VCT, and to study the attitudes and preferences of the community regarding VCT. Methods A total of 301 adults,...

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Publicado en:HIV Medicine Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 111 - 118
Autores principales: Irungu TK, Varkey P, Cha S, Patterson JM
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Feb2008
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Feb2008
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        105781404
        2009798442
        10.1111/j.1468-1293.2007.00538.x
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        atl: HIV voluntary counselling and testing in Nakuru, Kenya: findings from a community survey.
      aug:
        au:
          Irungu TK
          Varkey P
          Cha S
          Patterson JM
        affil: Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
      sug:
        subj:
          Communities Psychosocial Factors
          Counseling
          HIV Infections Diagnosis
          HIV Infections Prevention and Control
          HIV Infections Psychosocial Factors
          Adult
          Consumer Attitudes
          Funding Source
          Health Screening Utilization
          Health Services Accessibility
          HIV Education
          Kenya
          Middle Age
          Privacy and Confidentiality Psychosocial Factors
          Questionnaires
          Random Sample
          Human
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
      ab: Objectives HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is important for prevention, detection and treatment of HIV infection. A study was conducted to determine the extent of utilization of VCT, and to study the attitudes and preferences of the community regarding VCT. Methods A total of 301 adults, aged 18-49 years, residing in Nakuru, Kenya were randomly selected using a two-stage sampling process. A self-administered questionnaire delivered during home visits was used to collect data over a 4-week period. Results The majority of study participants (184 of 287; 64.1%) had never been tested for HIV; 77 (26.8%) had received VCT, and 26 (9.1%) had received HIV testing without counselling. A total of 219 (78.2%) of the 280 responding participants expressed readiness to have VCT. The majority of participants (216 of 296; 73%) preferred VCT, while 46 (15.5%) preferred testing without counselling. The majority (227; 76.7%) preferred couple testing and dedicated clinics and private doctors' offices as testing facilities. The choice of a nearby facility was ranked above the provision of anonymity by most participants (162 of 298; 54.4%; vice versa for 136 of 298; 45.6%). Conclusions With HIV/AIDS continuing to be a major public health concern in Kenya, the issues surrounding acceptance and use of VCT need to be addressed. Enhancing community awareness of the benefits of early HIV diagnosis, providing couple-based VCT as an integral part of VCT and increasing access to VCT testing sites may enhance utilization of VCT.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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