Evaluation of HIV counselling and testing, self-disclosure, social support and sexual behaviour change among a rural sample of HIV reactive patients in South Africa

E Sethosa,K Peltzer

doi:10.4102/curationis.v28i1.912

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate HIV counselling and testing, self-disclosure, social support and sexual behaviour change among HIV reactive patients among a rural sample of HIV reactive patients in South Africa. The sample consisted at the post-test counselling exit interview of 55 participants (41 women and 14 men) who tested HIV-positive conveniently selected from a rural hospital and at five months follow-up at their homes 47. Results indicated that most patients had an HIV test because of medical reasons. At follow-up only 36% had disclosed their HIV status and half of the participants had had sex without condoms in the past three weeks. Major reason for not disclosing of their HIV status were being afraid of negative reactions, fear of discrimination, fear of violence, concerns about confidentiality and not yet ready. Social support was found to be significantly related to disclosure of HIV status, while counselling context and content and counselling satisfaction were not related with HIV disclosure.

Highlights

The primary objectives of HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services are (1) to provide an opportunity for persons to learn their HIV sero-status and if infected, to obtain referrals for medical and psychosocial care and (2) to provide counselling so that clients might change their behaviour to avoid infection or, if they are already infected, to avoid transmitting the virus to others (Centers for Dis ease Control, 2001: 2f.)
Sarangibin, Ruxgungtham, Sittitrai and Phanuphak (1995) studied the relationship between HIV counselling and testing and sexual risk behaviour in HIV seropositive patients in Thailand. They had a control group who an swered the questionnaire before HIV VCT and the study group who answered the questionnaire after HIV VCT and found out that most study group patients reported a marked decrease in their sexual activity and in their number o f sexual partners after HIV VCT and consequent knowledge of posi tive HIV serostatus
Participants were conveniently selected for participation in the study as they presented for post-test HIV counselling at Mankweng hospital outpatient Health Information Cen tre

Summary

Introduction

The primary objectives of HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services are (1) to provide an opportunity for persons to learn their HIV sero-status and if infected, to obtain referrals for medical and psychosocial care and (2) to provide counselling so that clients might change their behaviour to avoid infection or, if they are already infected, to avoid transmitting the virus to others (Centers for Dis ease Control, 2001: 2f.). Sarangibin, Ruxgungtham, Sittitrai and Phanuphak (1995) studied the relationship between HIV counselling and testing and sexual risk behaviour in HIV seropositive patients in Thailand They had a control group who an swered the questionnaire before HIV VCT and the study group who answered the questionnaire after HIV VCT and found out that most study group patients reported a marked decrease in their sexual activity and in their number o f sexual partners after HIV VCT and consequent knowledge of posi tive HIV serostatus. They reported lower numbers of sexual partners and higher condom use rate than the con trol patients. VCT increased awareness and knowledge of preventive and care measures both for self and for others

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion