Factors related to the level of prisoner’s participation in implementing the voluntary counseling and testing program in penitentiary Semarang, Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction: Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is one of HIV screening programs to detect HIV infection earlier by counseling before and after doing blood test. During implementation of this program, there were various factors influenced prisoners to do VCT. The purpose of this research to determine factors influenced the participation of prisoners to do VCT.Method: This research was an analytical research with cross sectional design. A total of 145 respondents have filled questionnaire distributed by researcher The result showed that 73 respondents (50.3%) have followed VCT and 72 respondents (49.7%) did not VCT yet. Factors related prisoner’s participation (WBP) towards VCT program were education level, perception of needs about VCT service, prison support, health workers support, support by family and people around them.Result: The result showed that there are two types of support related with prisoner’s participation: prison’s support which is among 104 respondents (71.7%) who have high support, 62 respondents (42.8%) have followed VCT with p-value = 0.000. According to health workers support, 114 respondents (78.6%) who have high support, there are 64 respondents (44.1%) have followed VCT with p-value = 0.007.Conclusion: The counselor’s ability must be improved to perform good VCT and the prison was expected to give more information about HIV/AIDS and VCT program to increase prisoner’s knowledge to follow VCT.