Abstract
Nigeria has high burden of HIV/AIDS; antiretroviral therapy (ART) availability, a blessing to HIV patients. Unfortunately, most people do not know their HIV status. Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), Nigeria introduced mobile free HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) services to complement its clinic services for HCT uptake. The characteristics of clients patronizing ARFH’s HCT services are assessed. A retrospective review of ARFH’s clinics’ data on HCT services between 2005 and 2011 was undertaken and demographic characteristics of HCT clients were abstracted from the HIV intake register. Descriptive statistics of data were obtained using SPSS version 20.0. Significance of association between socio-demographic characteristics and reasons for HCT uptake were investigated using Chi-square test. The mean age of 6,684 clients was 29.5±9.4 years and 76% were females while 20% positive to HIV. Two-thirds in monogamous marriage and 25% had university/polytechnic education while 41% were artisans and apprentices. Nearness of HCT to patient’s residence and referral from ANC were the major reasons for HCT uptake. Mobile HCT clinic enhanced HCT uptake especially in sexually active age-group. Availability of mobile HCT services will fast-track achieving the first 90 of the 90-90-90-PEPFAR target for the control of HIV/AIDS. Proportion positive to HIV is high. Key words: HIV counseling and testing (HCT), Nigeria, HIV/AIDS, demographic characteristics, mobile, stand-alone.
Highlights
The estimate of the 2013 burden of HIV and AIDS showed 3.2 million people consisting of 2.8 million adults aged 15 years and above and 400,000 children aged between 0 and 14 years live with the disease in Nigeria
Research findings have shown that people who are aware of their HIVstatus are more likely to practice safer sex (Marks et al, 2005) and empower the uninfected person to change any risky behaviors associated with HIV. This must informed PEPRAR, who has been in the forefront in the control of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria to set a target for 90% of people to know their HIV status by the year 2020, and 90% of those found positive to be linked to treatment while 90% of those on treatment should have their viral load suppressed
The present study examined the socio-demographic characteristics of clients who accessed the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) services and their associations with reported reasons for HCT uptake
Summary
The estimate of the 2013 burden of HIV and AIDS showed 3.2 million people consisting of 2.8 million adults aged 15 years and above and 400,000 children aged between 0 and 14 years live with the disease in Nigeria. Research findings have shown that people who are aware of their HIVstatus are more likely to practice safer sex (Marks et al, 2005) and empower the uninfected person to change any risky behaviors associated with HIV. This must informed PEPRAR, who has been in the forefront in the control of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria to set a target for 90% of people to know their HIV status by the year 2020, and 90% of those found positive to be linked to treatment while 90% of those on treatment should have their viral load suppressed.
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