Factors that lead to changes in sexual behaviours after a negative HIV test: protocol for a prospective cohort study in Kinshasa.

Silvia Carlos,Cristina Lopez-Del Burgo,Francis Nzakimuena,Eduardo Burgueño,Adolphe Ndarabu,Alfonso Osorio,Gabriel Reina,Jokin De Irala

doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3285-5

Abstract

BackgroundConsidering the high percentage of couples in which one or both members are HIV negative, the frequency of transmission among non-regular partners and the probabilities of non-disclosure, attention should be paid to people getting a negative HIV test at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT). Research has shown that a negative HIV test may be followed by a change in sexual behaviours. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where most HIV infections occur, there are few studies that have analysed the factors associated with changes in sexual risk behaviours after a negative HIV test at the VCT clinic. The aim of this project is to evaluate the specific factors associated with changes in sexual behaviours, three months after a negative result in an HIV test, and to analyse the effect of counseling and testing on HIV-related knowledge of participants in an outpatient centre of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo).Methods and designProspective cohort study from December 2014 until March 2016. People 15–60 year old that received VCT at Monkole Hospital (Kinshasa) were followed three months after they got a negative HIV test. In a face-to-face interview, participants replied to a baseline and a follow-up research questionnaire on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. At follow-up respondents were also offered a new HIV test and additional HIV counseling. Four hundred and fifteen participants completed the baseline questionnaire and 363 (87 %) came back for their 3-month follow up.DiscussionThis is the first longitudinal study in the DRC that evaluates the factors associated with changes in sexual behaviours after a negative HIV test at the VCT. Participants attending the VCT services within a clinical setting are a good study population as they can be good transmitters of preventive information for other people with no access to health facilities.

Highlights

Considering the high percentage of couples in which one or both members are HIV negative, the frequency of transmission among non-regular partners and the probabilities of non-disclosure, attention should be paid to people getting a negative HIV test at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT)
This is the first longitudinal study in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that evaluates the factors associated with changes in sexual behaviours after a negative HIV test at the VCT
This study aims to be a scientific contribution for the evaluation of new strategies for the future at the post-test counseling sessions in order to prevent new HIV infections, as well as other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), on those receiving HIV negative tests

Summary

Introduction

Considering the high percentage of couples in which one or both members are HIV negative, the frequency of transmission among non-regular partners and the probabilities of non-disclosure, attention should be paid to people getting a negative HIV test at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT). Post-test counseling, for those participants that get a positive result, should include explanations on how to communicate their result, how to avoid new transmissions and where to get clinical and social services for the infection control. Considering the high percentage of couples in which one or both members are HIV negative [4,5,6,7,8], the HIV sexual transmission risks [9, 10], the frequency of transmission among nonregular partners [11] and the probabilities of nondisclosure [4], post-test counseling for those uninfected is really critical to prevent new HIV cases, which currently arise mostly as a result of early onset of sex, multiple serial and concurrent partnerships and incorrect and inconsistent condom use

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