Failure to Return for Posttest Counseling and HIV Test Results at the Prevention and Voluntary Testing and Counseling Centers of Douala, Cameroon: An Evaluation of a Routine Five-Year Program.

Patrice Ngangue,Marie-Pierre Gagnon,Emmanuelle Bedard,Dieudonné Adiogo,Gerard Ngueta

doi:10.1155/2016/9720148

Abstract

This study examined the magnitude and time trends in failure to return (FTR) rates and the relation between FTR and individual characteristics, tests procedures, waiting period for the results, and HIV test results among people who were screened for HIV in the prevention and voluntary testing and counseling centers (PVTCCs) of six district hospitals of the city of Douala in Cameroon, between January 2009 and December 2013. It was a retrospective analysis of medical records. Among the 32,020 analyzed records, the failure to return (FTR) rate was 14.3%. Overall, people aged 50 years and over, those tested between 2011 and 2012, and those tested in the PVTCC of Bonassama were less likely to return for their results. Significant factors associated with FTR included being a housewife, having a positive/undetermined/requiring confirmation result, and provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC). There was an increasing trend for FTR in the PVTCCs of Bonassama, New-Bell, Nylon, and Cité des Palmiers. HIV testing and counseling services in Douala district hospitals must be reorganized such that individuals tested for HIV receive their results on the same day of the test. Also counselors need to better alert clients concerning the importance of returning for their test results.

Highlights

In Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV testing and counseling (HTC) has been introduced in most health facilities, and it is recognized that HIV testing and especially return to receive results rates are very low [1,2,3]
Numerous studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa have found that the fear of a positive HIV result, stigmatization and discrimination, low educational level, low individual perception of risk, lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, low income, and young age were the main factors often associated with failure to return (FTR) for HIV test results
This study examines the magnitude and time trends in FTR rates and the relation between FTR and individual characteristics, tests procedures, waiting period for the results, and HIV test results among people who were screened for HIV in six district hospitals of Douala, Cameroon, between January 2009 and December 2013

Summary

Introduction

In Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV testing and counseling (HTC) has been introduced in most health facilities, and it is recognized that HIV testing and especially return to receive results rates are very low [1,2,3]. Numerous studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa have found that the fear of a positive HIV result, stigmatization and discrimination, low educational level, low individual perception of risk, lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, low income, and young age were the main factors often associated with failure to return (FTR) for HIV test results. In these studies, the proportion of individuals who did not return for their result ranged from 10% to 50% depending on the country [7,8,9].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion