Voluntary Counseling And Testing Research Articles

A qualitative study exploring approaches, barriers, and facilitators of the HIV partner notification program in Kerman, Iran

Background HIV partner notification services can help people living with HIV (PLHIV) to identify, locate, and inform their sexual and injecting partners who are exposed to HIV and refer them for proper and timely counseling and testing. To what extent these services were used by PLHIV and what are the related barriers and facilitators in southeast Iran are not known. So, this study aimed to explore HIV notification and its barriers and facilitators among PLHIV in Iran.MethodsIn this qualitative study, the number of 23 participants were recruited from November 2022 to February 2023 including PLHIV (N = 12), sexual partners of PLHIV (N = 5), and staff members (N = 6) of a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) center in Kerman located in the southeast of Iran. Our data collection included purposive sampling to increase variation. The content analysis was conducted using the Graneheim and Lundman approach. The analysis yielded 221 (out of 322) related codes related to HIV notification, its barriers, and its facilitators. These codes were further categorized into one main category with three categories and nine sub-categories.ResultsThe main category was HIV notification approaches, HIV notification barriers, and facilitators. HIV notification approaches were notification through clear, and direct conversation, notification through gradual preparation and reassurance, notification due to being with PLHIV, notification through suspicious talking of the physician, and notification due to the behavior of others. Also, the barriers were classified into individual, social, and environmental, and healthcare system barriers and the facilitators were at PLHIV, healthcare staff, and community levels. Stigma was a barrier mentioned by most participants. Also, the main facilitator of HIV notification was social support, especially from the family side.ConclusionsThe findings highlighted the multidimensionality of HIV notification emphasizing the importance of tailored support and education to enhance the notification process for PLHIV and their networks. Also, our results show that despite all the efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination in recent years, stigma still exists as a main obstacle to disclosing HIV status and other barriers are the product of stigma. It seems that all programs should be directed towards destigmatization.

Characteristics of men who have casual sex with men among Chinese university students: A cross-sectional study.

The characteristics of men who have sex with men (either exclusively or with both men and women; MSM) who engaged in casual sex among Chinese male university students have not been compared with the characteristics of men who have sex with only women (MSW). This information is important for tailoring targeted behavioral interventions to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission in this subgroup of MSM. Data were derived from a large cross-sectional electronic questionnaire survey conducted at 13 universities in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2018. Bivariate analyses were used to compare demographic, HIV-related psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics between MSM and MSW students who engaged in casual sex during the previous year. Proportion differences between the two groups and their 95% confidence intervals were analyzed. Among the 583 sexually active male students who engaged in casual sex during the previous year, 128 and 455 were MSM and MSW, respectively. Compared with MSW students, larger proportions of MSM students reported knowing that male-to-male sexual behavior was the main mode of HIV transmission among Chinese students (62.5% vs. 45.5%), consenting to commercial sex (67.2% vs. 53.4%), wanting to know the HIV serostatus of partners before casual sex (65.8% vs. 51.3%), feeling at risk of HIV infection (40.5% vs. 11.8%), high condom-decision scale scores (55.3% vs. 42.6%), engaging in sex with ≥ 5 casual sex partners (44.6% vs. 25.9%), searching for casual partners online (89.2% vs. 51.3%), consuming alcohol before casual sex (64.8% vs. 45.0%), engaging in sex with regular partners (83.1% vs. 67.0%), engaging in commercial sex (54.2% vs. 26.4%), and visiting a clinic for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) (16.4% vs. 8.4%). However, compared with MSW students, smaller proportions of MSM students reported knowing that consistent condom use could prevent HIV transmission (80.5% vs. 95.2%) and that VCT should be actively sought after risky sexual behavior (78.9% vs. 93.8%), using condoms sometimes/often (26.4% vs. 44.3%), and consistently using condoms (28.9% vs. 40.1%) while engaging in sex with casual partners. MSM students who engaged in casual sex were at a greater risk of HIV/STI transmission, compared with MSW students. Comprehensive interventions to address the risks of unprotected male-to-male sex, searching for casual sex partners online, and non-use of HIV testing services are needed to reduce the burden of HIV/STI transmission among this subgroup of MSM.

Knowledge, acceptance, and uptake of voluntary counseling and testing for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among undergraduates of a public university in Southwestern Nigeria

Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a global public health problem, and Nigeria has about 1.9 million people living with the virus. HIV testing and counseling services serve as a very important entry point to HIV/AIDS care and treatment. Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is one of the interventions developed to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. This study determined the knowledge, acceptance, and utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in a public University in Southwestern Nigeria. Material and Methods: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design, using the multistage sampling technique to select 425 respondents. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), version 25. Descriptive statistics were presented in tables and figures, and inferential statistics were analyzed at a level of significance of 0.05. Results: Over half of the respondents, 226 (53.2%) were within the age range of 18–25 years. The majority were female, 345 (81.2%), single 403 (94.8%), and had never had sexual intercourse 300 (70.6%). Over half of the respondents’ 240 (57%), had above average knowledge of VCT for HIV/AIDs, had above average levels of acceptance 254 (59%), and the majority 326 (76.2%) of the respondents had very low level of utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS. There was a significant association between respondents’ age (χ2 = 55.599a, P = 0.000), gender (χ2 = 19.094a, P = 0.000), religion (χ2 = 8.990a, P = 0,038), marital status (χ2 = 8.411a, P = 0.038), age at first sex (χ2 = 61.847a, P = 0.000), knowledge of VCT (χ2 = 5.297a, P = 0.021), acceptance of VCT (χ2 = 80.235a, P = 0.000), and their uptake of VCT for HIV/AIDs. Furthermore, selected socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, and acceptance of VCT significantly predicted the uptake of VCT among respondents (F [8,416] = 20.163, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that respondents had an above average knowledge and acceptance of VCT but a low level of utilization. To increase the utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS among undergraduates, public health programs should focus on educating undergraduates and significant others on the importance of VCT in the context of HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing Utilisation among School of Healthcare Sciences Undergraduate Students at the University of Limpopo.

Existing evidence indicates that South African university students have low utilisation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the utilisation of HIV VCT among undergraduate students in the School of Healthcare Sciences. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data through Google Forms. The results are presented through descriptions and percentages and illustrated in tables. Out of 389 undergraduate students, only 324 completed the questionnaire. The majority (97.2%) were aware of the health centre on campus, while only (74.7%) knew about the HIV VCT services offered on campus. Despite the awareness, many (36.7%) do not utilise the campus HIV VCT services, and some (9.6%) have never tested for HIV. There was an association between awareness of Voluntary Counselling and Testing of HIV services offered at the campus health and wellness centre and utilisation of HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing at (<0.001). Therefore, it is imperative to urgently escalate the level of HIV/AIDS education in higher institutions of learning and emphasise the mounting danger of HIV infection and the immense importance of regular HIV testing. The findings of this study could serve as a foundation for creating HIV prevention and control programmes for youth, particularly in higher education institutions.

Analysis of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Service Utilization Factors in Tuberculosis (TB) Patients in Semarang City

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and is the leading cause of health problems and the most common cause of death worldwide. Tuberculosis is the disease that causes the most health problems in the community to date. Based on data from the Semarang City Health Office, it is known that 41.4% of tuberculosis patients will undergo Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) screening in 2022. This is of course still below the screening target, which is the 100% target. Mismatch with VCT screening targets in TB patients can occur due to fear and anxiety if TB patients know their health status related to HIV and AIDS. This study was prepared using a cross-sectional design. The number of respondents included is 107 people diagnosed with TB at Kedungmundu, Bangetayu, and Tlogosari Wetan Health Centers in 2023. Univariate and Bivariate analyses were used to analyze the results of this study. The results of this study found that variables consisting of age, marital status, and education had no relationship with the use of VCT services in tuberculosis (TB) patients in Semarang City.

Determinants of preventive sexual behaviours among first year university students in Beira city, central Mozambique: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundUnderstanding determinants of preventive sexual behaviours is important for intervention efforts to support these behaviours and, thereby, reduce STIs and HIV burden. In general, there is limited insight into determinants of preventive behaviours among university students in Mozambique. Therefore, this study set out to assess both the prevalence and the determinants of condom use and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) service use in first year university students.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in May–September 2021, at the Universidade Católica de Moçambique and the Universidade Licungo, in Beira central Mozambique. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, heterosexual relationship experiences and personal determinants posited to be associated with condom use and VCT service use. We included 819 participants, who were selected using a clustered and random sampling design. We used Pearson's chi-square test to compare proportion and estimate the crude odd ratio as the effect size measure at 95% confidence interval, and Confidence Interval-Based Estimation of Relevance to determine correlation coefficients of means and the behaviours of interest at 95% confidence interval.ResultsCondoms were used by 96.1% of male participants and 95.0% of female participants. Additionally, 55.1% of male participants and 57.5% of female participants had previously used VCT services. Condom use was associated with discussing sexuality with mother, and self-efficacy for condom use negotiation, and negatively associated with attitudes that condoms reduce pleasure. VCT service use was associated with discussing sexuality with mother, sexual debut, having a sexual partner, and being in what they consider an important heterosexual relationship. Knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy and subjective norms were weakly associated with VCT service use.ConclusionIn first year university students in Mozambique, reported condom use was high but VCT services were only used by about half of the participants. Interventions aiming to increase VCT service use should focus on improving communication between parents and their adolescent or young adult children, providing personalized risk information, demonstrating that VCT service use is pleasant and non-judgmental, improving users’ confidence to schedule a visit, and preparing users for possible positive testing results.

Temporal and Spatial Trends in HIV Positivity Rate for VCT Clinics - China, 2015-2022.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinics play a critical role in identifying and diagnosing HIV cases. This study aimed to describe the trend of HIV positivity rate (HPR) among Chinese VCT clinics between 2015 and 2022. This study utilized data from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention to analyze the trend in the HPR for VCT clinics from 2015 to 2022. The HPR was calculated by dividing the number of newly-reported HIV cases by the number of HIV tests, multiplied by 100%. To identify temporal and spatial trends in the HPR, we employed joinpoint regression analysis and the Getis-Ord hotspot analysis. From 2015 to 2022, VCT clinics in China performed a total of 22,075,386 HIV tests, leading to the identification of 260,353 HIV cases, resulting in a HPR of 1.18%. The HPR consistently declined over the study period, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of -7.5% (95% confidence interval: -12.6%, -2.2%, P<0.05). The number of HPR hotspots also decreased from 41 in 2015 to 23 in 2022. These HPR hotspots were primarily located in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Guangxi provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs). Among the 31 PLADs, 16 showed a significant decrease in HPR during the study period (AAPC<0, PAAPC<0.05). VCT clinics in China have played a significant role in identifying HIV cases. The declining HPR observed in these clinics may indicates the progress has been made in some degree in mitigating HIV among high-risk populations. Therefore, it is crucial to further improving the utilization of VCT clinics for HIV testing.

Prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) among People Living with HIV in Tehran, Iran.

Sexual problems are rarely addressed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) management, even though overt sexual dysfunctions are more prevalent in people living with HIV. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among HIVinfected men in a stable clinical state, examine the relationship between antiretroviral therapy (ART) exposure and sexual dysfunction, and identify the associated risk factors. This cross-sectional study recruited HIV-positive males who visited the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) center of Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran) in 2020. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire was used to evaluate the ED in participants. Sociodemographic and clinical data were also collected. Of 65 patients who participated in this study, 27.7% had ED. The mean age of participants with and without ED was 39.4±11.5 and 40.4±7.6 years old, respectively. No significant difference was observed between patients with and without ED concerning the sociodemographic status and the use of ART drugs. The prevalence of ED is relatively high among men living with HIV. Future research is recommended among HIV-positive males to identify the underlying causes and explore the potential impact that associated psychological distress could have on sexual dysfunction.

Determination of knowledge, attitude and practice of voluntary counseling testing on HIV among youths from Tepi Town, Ethiopia.

Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is an integral component of HIV prevention and care strategies worldwide. VCT is considered as an effective strategy in risk reduction among sexually active youth. There is a high burden of HIV in Ethiopia despite a considerable scale up of comprehensive HIV interventions. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of VCT uptake towards HIV among youth of rural part of Tepi town, Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was carried out from May to August 2020. Total numbers of 127 youths in the age group of 15-24 years were recruited in a self-administered questionnaire with 100% response rate. Descriptive analysis was referred to describe the data. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to measure the effect of different variables by computing odds ratio. Multivariable analyses were utilized to determine the relative effect of explanatory variables. The study showed that out of 127 total youth respondents, 111 (87.4%) of the respondents have good knowledge and 99 (78%) had a positive attitude towards VCT. Whereas, 86 (67.7%) of the respondents are aware of practicing VCT on HIV in the past. The findings revel that gender and father's educational status were among the socio-demographic variables that showed statistically significant association with one or more variables affecting youths' knowledge towards VCT uptake. As such, perceived risk of HIV infection, educational level, gender and marital status were statistically responsible for VCT uptake.

Satisfaction of Patients Family Reviewed from Caring Human Resources in Voluntry Counseling Testing HIV Poly Dr. Soekandar Hospital of Mojosari Kabupaten Mojokerto

Satisfaction of the patient's family is the most important thing so that the Hospital can develop. This can be created if medical personnel are able to provide good service. One of the indicators to support optimal service is managing the appropriate caring human resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of patient family satisfaction in the HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) polyclinic in terms of caring for human resources at Dr. Soekandar Mojosari. The research design used cross sectional. The sample of this research is 135 respondents. This study used a random sampling stratification technique with a research instrument using a questionnaire. Data analysis was used to analyze the caring relationship of human resources at Dr. Soekandar Mojosari used ordinal regression analysis techniques.

Perception and Uptake of HIV/AIDS Voluntary Counselling and Testing Among Women in Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan.

Introduction: At the end of 2020, there were reportedly 37.7 million HIV-positive individuals. HIV testing has been marketed as a crucial first step method to diagnose, treat, and prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It is the cornerstone of all HIV prevention initiatives. The study's main aim was to ascertain the degree of HIV and HIV VCT (voluntary counselling and testing) awareness among women in Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, as well as their attitudes towards HIV VCT and the rate at which they adopted the treatment. Method: This study employed a descriptive study design aimed at assessing the perception and uptake of HIV VCT among women residing in Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo state. The total population of the women was 410. The sample size was determined using the Taro Yamane formula and the sample size was 220 women which was allocated proportionally to each primary health care center. The research instrument used for the study is a self-administered questionnaire.&#x0D; Results: The results showed that more than 75% of respondents had good understanding of HIV and HIV VCT, and that 65% had positive perceptions of HIV VCT. The study found that there is no significant association between women's level of education and their level of knowledge on HIV and HIV VCT and conclude that there is no significant association between women's perception of HIV and HIV VCT and HIV VCT uptake.&#x0D; Conclusion: In conclusion, the result revealed like other related studies that the attitude of women in Akinyele local government towards HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing is just a little above average which means quite a number of the respondents are still not willing to take HIV VCT. Hence, the women need more sensitization on the importance and benefits of HIV VCT.

Knowledge and perceptions on the existence of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centers and associated factors among Brazilian LGBT+ individuals.

In Brazil, the advent of voluntary and counseling testing (VCT) has provided many benefits in the fight against AIDS. A sectional open web survey was conducted to investigate the Brazilian LGBT+ individuals' knowledge and perceptions of the existence of VCT centers and their associations with risk behavior and other variables of interest. The study instrument included questions on sociodemographic and behavioral variables, knowledge on VCT, access to and use of it, beliefs about HIV infection, test results, and risk perception. The Risk Behavior Score for HIV infection (RBS) was also used. A total of 1,630 volunteers participated in the survey, of whom 56.8% were men. Of these, 96.1% declared themselves as (MSM). Almost 50% of the participants had never heard about the existence of VCT, which was a higher knowledge score among MSM. A low frequency of participants had a clear perception of the risks to which they are exposed, whereas those with higher RBS were aware of the existence of VCT. As VCT is critical for the implementation of policies to combat and prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, our results can contribute to a better understanding of the influence of VCT on the frequency of testing, serological surveillance, and routine counseling for key populations.

HIV testing cascade among men who have sex with men at higher HIV risk in Serbia

Abstract Background Successful HIV prevention requires motivation, access, and effective use by priority populations. Accessible and non-stigmatizing HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is the first step towards timely diagnosis. In Serbia, there is a concentrated HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM), with 49.2% of new diagnoses being detected late in 2021, based on initial CD4 cell count. We examined key aspects related to HIV testing among a high-risk sample of Serbian MSM to improve national HIV prevention guidelines. Methods A bio-behavioral cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling study among MSM in 4 cities in Serbia was conducted in 2021 (N = 1,300). We analyzed HIV testing among MSM who had unprotected anal sexual intercourse (UAI) in the last 12 months. The motivation pillar was operationalized as adequate knowledge of where VCT services can be obtained, the access pillar was operationalized as having ever had HIV testing, and the effective use of the VCT service pillar was operationalized as HIV testing in the last 6 months. Results Of all MSM reached, 63.8% had practiced UAI in the last 12 months, of whom 66.47% knew where to access VCT services. Of these, 88.9% had even been tested for HIV, yet only a quarter (25.5%) had been tested in the last 6 months. Therefore, only 15.1% of MSM who practiced UAI in the last 12 months had been recently tested for HIV. Conclusions HIV testing rate is high among Serbian MSM if they have adequate knowledge of where VCT services can be obtained. However, even though community-based VCT among MSM is subsidized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, the effective use of the VCT services is very low among high-risk MSM. This suggests that VCT service promotion must be transformed to be both visible and culturally sensitive to the Serbian MSM community. VCT protocols should also encourage regular testing (at least every 6 months) for those most at risk for HIV acquisition.

Factors related to delayed initiation of antiretroviral therapy among patients with clinically eligible HIV-infected

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), namely a virus that reduces the ability of the human immune system, so that sufferers are susceptible to various diseases, the wider scope of ARV administration certainly has a positive impact in reducing mortality and morbidity, improving the quality of life of patients with HIV and AIDS.Purpose: To determine the factors associated with delayed initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Human Immunodeficiency Virus patients at the VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) Clinic of Pringsewu Hospital in 2022.Method: This type of quantitative research, using a cross sectional design. The population of this study were HIV positive patients at the Pringsewu Regional General Hospital Clinic, Lampung for the year 2022, namely 174 patients, using the side total technique. Univariate data analysis, bivariate with chi square and multivariate with multiple logistic regression tests.Results: The result showed that the factors associated with delayed initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Human Immunodeficiency Virus patients at the VCT Clinic at Pringsewu General Hospital in 2022 were Socioeconomic Status (p value=0.009), education level (p value=0.001, opportunistic infections (p value= 0.001), HIV/AIDS Stigma (p value=0.003), and Access (p value=0.018). The most dominant factor associated with delayed initiation of antiretroviral therapy in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection was access (95% CI, p=0.027 and OR; 3.738).Conclusion: Antiretroviral therapy (ARV) delays in PLWHA are strongly influenced by low socioeconomic status, low education level, presence of opportunistic infections, positive stigma and remote access to healthcare services.Suggestion: Management at the hospital's VCT clinic is suggested to make guidelines or standardized services, educate about the importance of ARVs, provide motivation, and carry out consistent control of ARV therapy. The management always promotes the importance of awareness and adherence in carrying out ARV therapy which will have many benefits in improving quality of life, healthy behavior, and extending life span.

Differences peripheral of blood in HIV patients with and without cognitive disorders at “Prof. Dr. IGNG Ngoerah” Hospital

Background and objective. The prevalence of mild neurocognitive Disorder (MND) has increased after using antiretroviral therapy (ARV), which is around 51.5%. Inflammation plays an essential role in the neurodegenerative state of HIV patients. Peripheral blood images can assess increased macrophage activation by evaluating the number of leukocytes, neutrophils, total lymphocytes, hemoglobin, platelets, platelets, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to determine the condition of systemic inflammation in HIV patients with cognitive impairment. This study to know differences in the appearance of peripheral blood in HIV patients with and without cognitive impairment. Method. Observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design on 44 HIV patients who were outpatients at the polyclinic Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) at Prof Dr. IGNG Ngoerah Denpasar Hospital. Subjects were divided into 2 groups based on cognitive status assessed using the MoCA-INA questionnaire. The peripheral blood images considered were the average levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, and the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes. Results. 31-40 years old, male, with &gt;9 years of education, has a CD4 count &gt;200, and has received ARV therapy &gt;1 year. The Shapiro-Wilk normality test performed on both groups showed that the data were normally distributed with p&gt;0.05. Bivariate analysis using an independent t-test with a 95% confidence level (α=0.05) found significant differences in mean leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (p&lt;0.05) between groups of HIV patients with cognitive impairment and no cognitive impairment. Conclusion. Inflammatory markers from the peripheral blood picture are increased in HIV-infected persons.

Attitude and practice of secondary school students towards voluntary counselling and testing in Mwanza, North-West Tanzania.

Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) has become popular in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, for people to learn about their HIV status and get motivation for positive sexual behaviour change. Our study explored the attitude and practice of secondary school students towards VCT. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Magu, Mwanza, North-West Tanzania. Recorded information included sex, factors promoting or hindering VCT attendance, reasons why attending VCT is necessary, awareness of VCT locations and source of information. Of the 340 students interviewed, 93.2 % knew that VCT was necessary and had reasons such as getting Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) education, checking HIV status and getting advice if found to be HIV positive. The majority (74.4 %) knew the location of the VCT centres. However, only 20.3 % made use of the VCT services. Those who did not use VCT services had reasons such as time limitations, believing they were not infected and fear of being labelled HIV positive. Our study shows that most secondary school students know that VCT is necessary and the locations of the VCT centres, but only a few use VCT services. More effort should be put into educating students and society on the importance of using VCT services.

Implementation Evaluation of HIV/AIDS Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Service at Public Health Facilities of Akaki Kality Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is widely acknowledged globally as an effective method for preventing and treating HIV/AIDS. It allows people to understand their HIV status, make informed choices about getting tested for it, evaluate their personal risk of contracting HIV, and create plans to reduce that risk. The study aimed to evaluate the process of VCT services in public health facilities of Akaki Kality sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A case study evaluation design with a mixed method was employed from May 12 to June 12, 2021. A total of 244 clients were interviewed during the study period. Furthermore, 12 direct observations, a review of documents from the past six months to the study period, and 12 key informant interviews were conducted. Quantitative data were entered into Epi data 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Univariate analysis was done and presented in tables and texts. Qualitative data were transcribed, translated, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The overall service implementation process was measured on the basis of pre-determined judgmental criteria. The overall level of VCT service implementation was 83.84%, to which the availability of resources (84.8%), compliance of service providers with the national guidelines (85.38%), and client satisfaction (76.93%) contributed. One facility had stock-outs of test kits in the last three months, and all VCT counseling and testing rooms lacked audio-visual privacy. Supportive supervision, the use of IEC materials during counseling, linking all HIV-positive clients to treatment and care services, and sending complete reports were practiced in a way that needs some improvement. Overall, the service implementation was deemed satisfactory, but further action is required to improve resource availability, ensure provider compliance with national guidelines, and enhance the status of the service. In addition, the Woreda Health Office and Addis Abeba Health Bureau should regularly supervise and provide feedback.

Psycho-Social Impact of Stigmatization against Pregnant Women with HIV

Background: Stigmatization, discrimination, and poor social support are challenges faced by people living with HIV, and the stigmatization of pregnant women with HIV is still very frequent, which can have a profound negative impact on patient's health. This can have a psychosocial impact on the sufferer. Objective: To study and determine the psychosocial impact of discriminatory behavior towards pregnant patients with HIV. Methods: This is a case report of two cases of pregnant women with HIV at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Polyclinic of RSUP Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Go to Denpasar. In-depth interviews were conducted with them regarding their views on openness to their families and communities about their condition. Results and Discussion: It was reported that two cases of pregnant women with HIV who were carrying out antenatal care in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic Room, Prof. dr. I.G.N.G Ngoerah Central General Hospital Denpasar. In both cases, discriminatory treatment and stigma still strongly haunt the sufferers even though the form and source are slightly different. In the first case, the patient was afraid of getting discriminatory treatment and stigmatization that came from the family environment and the wider environment. Meanwhile, in the second case, it shows that the discriminatory treatment that causes stigma does not only come from far away but also comes from the people themselves. Both have a psychosocial impact that creates a sense of social discomfort, even though the race is slowly diminishing with the assistance of a counselor. There is a need for a wide range of active education by health workers to the patient's family and the community in reducing the stigma and discrimination against pregnant women with HIV. Conclusion: Women with HIV, especially those who are pregnant, are still full of negative judgments, and discriminatory behavior towards them. This can cause psychosocial impacts on patients. The disparity between knowledge about unknown patterns of HIV transmission on the one hand and risky sexual behavior, on the other hand, can be one of the risk factors for contracting HIV. This also contributes to stigma and discrimination against pregnant women with HIV.

Quality of life and its predictors among people living with HIV in Muslim majority region: A cross-sectional study in Aceh.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) remain significant global health challenges addressed by countries worldwide. The advent of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality of people living with HIV (PLHIV), transforming HIV/AIDS from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic disease. However, the increasing number of elderly individuals with HIV who experience early frailty syndrome presents new challenges and potential for diminished quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life and to identify its significant predictors in PLHIV patients who have received ARV therapy in Banda Aceh, a Muslim-majority region in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on all PLHIV who received ARV therapy at the voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) polyclinic at Dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital, Banda Aceh, Indonesia between January and February 2023. The WHOQOL-HIV BREF instrument, a multi-dimensional tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), was used to assess the quality of life of the PLHIV, and potential predictors were assessed. The Chi-squared test was used to determine the predictors associated with the quality of patient's lives. Our data indicated that the majority of PLHIV were male (88%), 26-35 years old (78%), employed (92%), and unmarried (54%). Poor quality of life was dominant for the physical health (100%) and social relationships (76%) domains. In contrast, good quality of life was observed in aspects of independence, psychology, and spirituality, all reporting 100% results. Significant associations were found between married status (p=0.004) and medication adherence (p<0.001) with higher quality of life among PLHIV. In conclusion, married PLHIVs that received support from their partners regarding adherence to therapy exhibited a better quality of life. These results underscore the significance of sustained support systems and adherence strategies to enhance PLHIV's quality of life.

Uptake of HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing and Associated Factors among Students in the Higher Institutions of Learning in Kigali, Rwanda: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundHIV/AIDS remains a significant global public health challenge with youth bearing the brunt of the burden. One essential method for preventing and accessing AIDS care is through Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). Regardless of this, youth population continues to have low utilization of VCT services.ObjectiveTo assess the uptake of HIV VCT services and associated factors among university students in Kigali.MethodsA cross-sectional study among 374 students recruited using stratified sampling was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent factors associated with VCT uptake.ResultsThe prevalence of VCT uptake was 59.9%. The logistic regression revealed that being Catholic (AOR = 11.99, 95%CI: 5.44-26.41) and Moslem (AOR = 37.34, 95%CI: 2.67-128.36) compared to Protestant, as well as availability of VCT services (AOR = 5.15, 95%CI: 3.11 - 8.541) favored the use VCT. On the other hand, being aged 20 to 24 years (AOR = 0.112, 95%CI: 0.04 - 0.29) had low likelihood of using VCT than those more than 24 years of age.ConclusionVCT uptake was significantly positively associated with religion and VCT services availability, and negatively associated with age 20-24 years in the campus. Therefore, targeted actions of disseminating information on benefits of VCT and enhancing accessibility of VCT services among students are necessary for the increased VCT uptake to be attained.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2023;6(2):104-112