Acceptance Of Voluntary HIV Testing Research Articles

Factors influencing acceptability of voluntary HIV testing among pregnant women in Gamboma, Republic of Congo.

BackgroundThis study was carried out to identify factors affecting the acceptability of voluntary HIV testing among pregnant women in a semi-rural city, Gamboma, Republic of Congo.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between January and September 2012. Pregnant women attending antenatal heath care at an integrated health center were enrolled after informed consent and followed through voluntary HIV testing.ResultsAmong 136 participants, 98 women (72 %) accepted voluntary HIV testing after pre-test counseling. Women with basic education, those who cited blood transfusion as a mode of transmission and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) were more likely to accept testing as well those informed about free HIV testing. Interestingly, pregnant women who had heard about HIV/AIDS from hospital setting were less likely to accept testing.ConclusionsOur data indicate that increasing general education on HIV transmission/prevention modes is crucial for increasing acceptability of screening. Furthermore, HIV/AIDS knowledge disseminated to patients in hospital settings should be carefully monitored. Lastly, scaling-up MTCT services along with a better and larger community information, may address accessibility barriers observed in the present study.

Sociodemographic predictors of acceptance of voluntary HIV testing among pregnant women in a large maternity hospital, Omdurman, Sudan.

This study aimed to determine the sociodemographic predictors of willingness of pregnant women in Sudan to accept HIV testing. A random sample of 500 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in Omdurman maternity hospital in 2010 were interviewed. Significant predictors of women's tendency to accept HIV testing were: age < 30 years (OR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.2-5.8), primigravida (OR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.3), better education level (OR 3.4, 95% CI: 1.7-6.7), owning a radio (OR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4), in employment (OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2-5.0) and ≥ 2 antenatal care visits (OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-2.9). Husband's age ≥ 35 years (OR 3.2, 95% CI: 2.0-5.2) and Christian faith (OR 3.8, 95% CI: 1.4-10.7) were significant variables, although with a wide margin of confidence. These predictors should be considered in strategies to increase the acceptance and use of HIV testing and counselling services.

New method for estimating HIV incidence and time from infection to diagnosis using HIV surveillance data

To estimate HIV incidence and time between HIV infection and diagnosis of infection. We devised a new model for estimating the incidence of HIV infection and the time between infection and diagnosis from HIV surveillance data. Our approach takes into account temporal changes in HIV test-seeking behaviors and requires few data on individuals newly diagnosed with HIV (i.e. date of diagnosis and clinical status at diagnosis). Using our new approach, we analyzed data for patients newly diagnosed with HIV in France between April 2003 and December 2008. The estimated mean time between infection and diagnosis ranged from 37.0 months among men who have sex with men to approximately 53.0 months among heterosexual men. Intermediate values were obtained for injecting drug users and heterosexual women. We estimated that mean times changed very slightly (≤1.2 months) during the period 2004-2007: it shortened among MSM, remained stable among non-French-national heterosexual men, and lengthened in all the other exposure categories. We estimated that the total number of new infections increased, but not significantly, between 2004 and 2007, reaching 7851 [95% confidence interval 5400-9919] in 2007. MSM accounted for the largest number of new infections (38%). HIV continues to spread in France, and the average time between infection and HIV diagnosis remains excessively long. New policies to expand the offer and acceptance of voluntary HIV testing are thus urgently needed. Our method will also be very useful to monitor and evaluate the impact of future HIV testing policies.

Determinants of acceptance of voluntary HIV testing among antenatal clinic attendees at Dil Chora Hospital, Dire Dawa, East Ethiopia

Back ground: Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is one of the best interventions to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV. Despite the proven benefits of VCT, many women are not willing to have HIV testing. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify factors that determine the acceptance of voluntary HIV testing among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Dil Chora Hospital in Dire Dawa. Method: The study employed unmatched case control study which was conducted from August 20 to September 10, 2006. The study population consisted of 234 antenatal care followers. Cases were antenatal care followers who were counseled and tested for HIV in the current pregnancy. Controls were antenatal care followers who were counseled but not tested for HIV in the current pregnancy. Data were collected by trained enumerators using structured questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analysis was carried out using SPSS version 12.0.1 software. Results: The majority (79.5%) of respondents (97.4% of cases and 60.5% of controls) had good knowledge on HIV, mother to child transmission and VCT. Marital status; knowledge about HIV, mother to child transmission and VCT; attitude towards VCT; antenatal care follow up and perceived benefits of VCT were independent predictors of acceptance of voluntary HIV testing. Conclusion: Knowledge on MTCT and VCT, positive attitude towards VCT, antenatal care follow-up were predictors of acceptance of VCT. During the VCT session, health professionals should focus on knowledge, attitude, and benefits of VCT.

Acceptance of voluntary HIV testing and the prevalence of HIV infection in women with cervical neoplasia in Toronto.

Over a 13-month period (1998-99), 661 adult women under the age of 50 years with a diagnosis of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) or invasive cervical cancer in the previous 5 years and who were unaware of their HIV status were approached to participate in this study. After pretest counseling, patients completed a short questionnaire about risk factors for HIV infection, had blood samples drawn for HIV testing,and arranged a follow-up appointment for test results and post-test counseling. The acceptance rate for HIV testing was 73% (N = 432 with HSIL and N = 51 with invasive cervical cancer). Most women reported heterosexual intercourse as their only risk factor for HIV infection, with the majority (95.1%) reporting more than one lifetime sexual partner. Women who declined participation were significantly older (P < 0.01) than participants and nonwhites were more likely to decline (P < 0.001). None of the study participants had positive HIV test results (0/483; 95% CI, 0.00-0.009). Although HIV testing was accepted by most women following pretest counseling, there were no women who tested HIV-positive who were previously unaware of their status. Consequently we do not recommend routine HIV testing in this population.

Acceptability of voluntary HIV testing by pregnant women in developing countries: an international survey. Ghent International Working Group on Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.

To evaluate acceptability of voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) by pregnant women in the context of clinical trials assessing interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MCT) of HIV in developing countries. During September-October 1997, 13 studies located in West (Abidjan, Bobo Dioulasso), East (Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar Es Salaam, Blantyre, Lusaka, Harare) and South Africa (Soweto, Durban), and Thailand (Bangkok) were included in a cross-sectional mailing survey about the acceptability of VCT in antenatal clinics. Acceptance rate, return rate, overall acceptability of VCT (acceptance of both pre- and post-VCT sessions) were obtained using a standardized questionnaire. The median overall acceptability of VCT was 69% (range, 33-95%). Overall acceptability of VCT most frequently depended on return rates because acceptance rates were generally high. Where several studies were conducted in parallel in the same city or the same country, overall acceptability rates of HIV testing were generally comparable even if the intervention programmes differed. Overall acceptability rates of VCT were high in antenatal clinics where a particular effort in implementing VCT programmes had been made. This international survey shows that despite many obstacles, VCT is feasible and acceptable for pregnant women aiming to reduce their risk of transmitting HIV to their children.

Acceptability of voluntary HIV testing with counselling in a rural village in Kagera, Tanzania

A pilot study on acceptability of voluntary HIV testing with counselling was performed in a rural village in Kagera, Tanzania as a potential intervention against HIV transmission. Village residents were prepared by their leaders and subsequently invited to health education group meetings to volunteer for the test. Consenting individuals were interviewed to determine awareness and acceptance of the offer followed by pre-test counselling and taking of a blood sample for subsequent HIV testing. Two months later, the results of the test were returned with post-test counselling coupled with a short interview of a random sample of adults in the village. Of the 245 adults responding to the call, 137 (55.9%) subsequently volunteered. The main reason for volunteering was to know the HIV status (96%). Among those who were aware of the offer, the main reason for not volunteering was that they felt unlikely to catch AIDS, implying that they had a false perception of being at low risk. In this study a significant proportion were willing to volunteer for the HIV test and to receive the results, indicating a moderate level of acceptability. The results also indicate the need for developing innovative ways of enhancing acceptability of voluntary HIV testing with counselling. However, the relationship between knowledge of HIV status and behavioural change is complex and therefore several potential mechanisms may exist by which HIV testing in combination with counselling can influence behaviour. For this reason, people should be given the choice of knowing their HIV status since it may constitute a potential mechanism for influencing behaviour towards reduction of HIV transmission.

HIV seroprevalence and the acceptance of voluntary HIV testing among newly incarcerated male prison inmates in Wisconsin.

In 1986-88, voluntary and blinded HIV testing was conducted among Wisconsin male prison entrants. The HIV seroprevalence was 0.30 percent in 1986, 0.53 percent in 1987, and 0.56 percent in 1988. The seroprevalence rates among entrants tested voluntarily did not differ from those tested blindly. Voluntary HIV testing was accepted by 71 percent of male prison entrants in 1988; among entrants reporting intravenous drug use 83 percent consented to voluntary HIV testing. Voluntary HIV testing of entrants appears to be an effective screening strategy in Wisconsin prisons.