Effectiveness of HIV/AIDS voluntary counselling and testing at a university in South Africa

Abstract

The increasing prevalence rates of HIV amongst South Africans 20 years and above, raises a concern as to the rising trend of the epidemic in similar age group within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS), in conjunction with HEIs and the South African government have undertaken to implement HIV/AIDS workplace programmes within universities in South Africa. Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is a critical component of most universities HIV/AIDS workplace programmes. The rationale for promoting VCT is to encourage testing. An uptake in testing offers a crucial benefit, participants become aware of their status, and in most instances this awareness leads to safer sexual practices which in turn help reduce the number of new infections. A dominate sequential explanatory mixed methodology was adopted for the study. However, the quantitative method was dominant in the mixed method. A sample size of 739 respondents responded to the flouted questionnaire during the quantitative phase. This was followed by the qualitative interview of which 14 participants answered the semi structured interview questions. The findings revealed that more respondents are aware of the availability of VCT sessions, when compared to the number of respondents who actually participated in the testing. It was further disclosed in the findings that awareness of the availability of VCT sessions at the university unfortunately does not amount to testing and thus does not result in the intended changes sought after by HEAIDS or the Department of Education. Research suggests that HEIs are not really helping students to realise their right to remain HIV negative. HEIs need to be concerned, and HIV/AIDS institutional offices, in particular, need to revisit the VCT with the intention of re-attracting student and staff participation