[TuPp0202] WHAT INFLUENCES COUPLES TO GET TESTED AT COUPLES VCT CENTERS IN KIGALI, RWANDA AND LUSAKA, ZAMBIA.

3rd International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment

Rio de Janeiro - July 24 - 27, 2005

WHAT INFLUENCES COUPLES TO GET TESTED AT COUPLES VCT CENTERS IN KIGALI, RWANDA AND LUSAKA, ZAMBIA.

IAS Conf HIV Pathog Treat 2005 Jul 24-27;3rd: Abstract No. TuPp0202

Sardar G.¹, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group Z.²
¹ Zambia Emory HIV Research Group, Lusaka, Zambia, ² Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America

INTRODUCTION: Couples Voluntary Counseling and Testing (CVCT) is an effective HIV prevention strategy for couples who represent the largest risk group in Africa. 10-20% of couples have one HIV+ and one HIV- partner. These discordant couples benefit from joint counseling and are eligible for clinical trials of HIV prevention strategies. A comparison of CVCT promotional strategies in two African capitals is presented.

METHODS: Promotion of CVCT at 6 CVCT centers in Kigali, Rwanda and Lusaka, Zambia included distribution of written invitations by Influence Network Agents (INAs), who were supported by public endorsements from Influence Network Leaders (INLs) and senior government officials. Information was gathered from tested couples regarding how they heard about CVCT.

RESULTS: Between May 2004 and January 2005, 9,335 couples were tested in Kigali, and 2,109 couples were tested in Lusaka. In Kigali, 32% of couples tested were invited by INAs and 68% were walk-ins. In Lusaka, 70% of couples tested were invited and 30% were walk-ins. In Lusaka, the primary way in which couples had heard of CVCT was through INAs (71%), followed by radio (27%), TV (17%), posters (12%), friends (14%), and previously tested couples (7%). In Rwanda, the primary way in which couples heard of CVCT was through couples who had been previously tested (51%), followed by radio announcements (41%), INAs (36%), posters (32%), and friends (13%).

CONCLUSIONS: The same promotional activities yielded very different results in the two cities. One-on-one contact with an INA is an effective means of promoting CVCT in both Kigali and Lusaka. The hoped for 'snowball effect' only occurred in Kigali, with tested couples referring many friends for CVCT. Radio was also a more effective strategy in Kigali, where there is only one local language. In Lusaka, 5 major language groups and 72 dialects are represented in a large number of radio stations.

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Prevention | TuPp0202 | Gurkiran Sardar
Voluntary counselling and testing

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