Community Based Promotion on VCT Acceptance among Rural Migrants in Shanghai, China

Tiejun Zhang,Ying Yang,Na He,Meiyang Gao,Yanping Zhao,Qingwu Jiang,Fuchang Ma,Yingying Ding,Xiuhong Tian,Feng Yu,Joan Muela Ribera

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0060106

Abstract

ObjectiveVoluntary counseling and testing (VCT) plays an important integral role in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, VCT service has not been effectively utilized among rural migrants, a high risk group in China. In this study, we developed a community based intervention to examine if community mobilization with comprehensive VCT is more effective than current HIV preventions with routine VCT service in promoting VCT acceptability among rural migrants in Shanghai, China.MethodsA comprehensive intervention with community mobilization and comprehensive VCT services including community-based VCT and mobile VCT was implemented during 2007–2009. Three communities in Minhang District of Shanghai were randomly selected and were designed to receive community mobilization and comprehensive VCT, traditional VCT and none intervention, respectively. After 24 months intervention, effects were evaluated by comparing outcome indicators between the baseline (2,690 participants) and follow-up surveys (1,850 participants).FindingsA substantial increase in VCT acceptance was observed among community mobilization group (94.9% vs. 88.5%, P<0.001), whereas the reverse effect was seen in the traditional VCT group (86.1% vs. 94.6%, P<0.001) and control group (69.0% vs. 91.7%, P<0.001). Rural migrants from community mobilization group were more likely to accept VCT (OR = 2.91, 95% CI 1.69–4.97). Rural migrants from community mobilization group also showed significant increase in HIV/AIDS knowledge, positive attitude towards HIV positive individuals and condom use.ConclusionCommunity mobilization with comprehensive VCT has significant impact on promotion of VCT acceptance and utilization among rural migrants in Shanghai. These findings provide evidence to support community mobilization as a suitable strategy for VCT promotion among rural migrants in Shanghai, China.

Highlights

Knowing one’s HIV status is the first step to accessing care and preventing further infection [1]
Community mobilization with comprehensive voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) has significant impact on promotion of VCT acceptance and utilization among rural migrants in Shanghai. These findings provide evidence to support community mobilization as a suitable strategy for VCT promotion among rural migrants in Shanghai, China
Among 700,000 people living HIV in China, the majority were still not identified [4].This underscores the urgent need for increasing acceptance and utilization of HIV testing especially voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT)

Summary

Introduction

Knowing one’s HIV status is the first step to accessing care and preventing further infection [1]. Among 700,000 people living HIV in China, the majority were still not identified [4].This underscores the urgent need for increasing acceptance and utilization of HIV testing especially voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT). During the past ten years, China has devoted huge efforts to promotion of free VCT service and established more than four thousand VCT clinics all over the country, where free and professional HIV counseling and testing are available [13]. Ma et al found VCT uptake rate among general adults could be as low as 2.5% [16]

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Results

Conclusion