AEGiS-09IAC: Establishing and evaluating an HIV counselling and testing service in Lusaka, Zambia.

9th International AIDS Conference


Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

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Establishing and evaluating an HIV counselling and testing service in Lusaka, Zambia.

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:122 (abstract no. WS-D19-4)
Baggaley R, Seth G, Mwansa C, Phiri M, Kelly M, Godfrey-Faussett P; Kara-Zambart Project, Lusaka.

OBJECTIVES: 1. To establish the first voluntary, confidential HIV counselling and testing (C&T) service in Zambia. 2. To evaluate its impact.

METHODS: A voluntary, confidential C&T centre has been established in central Lusaka. Baseline qualitative interviews and demographic questionnaires were used (1) to assess the motives of individuals seeking testing and (2) to determine their knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of HIV and any proposed behavioural changes dependent on the results of testing. Follow-up interviews were carried out to monitor behavioural changes and to explore feelings about the results and perceived benefits or regrets about being tested.

RESULTS: 99% of people returned to collect their results within two weeks. 1 result was given late because of staff illness. So far nobody has failed to collect a test result. 45% of people who had not been tested previously were HIV seropositive. Reasons for requesting a test included death of a spouse: current illness and worries about previous sexual relationships. Knowledge was generally good. Attitudes varied greatly. Some felt that the risk of infection was universal whereas others felt that only specific groups would be affected. The majority proposed changing their behaviour and plans for further children according to their HIV status. Planned behavioural change had been maintained at follow-up. Few people regretted being tested.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. There is popular demand in Lusaka for HIV testing that is voluntary and confidential. 2. With effective counselling virtually everybody returns to collect their results. 3. The high seroprevalence among those attending suggests that people's perceptions of their high risk are accurate. 4. Appropriate behaviour changes have been sustained over a short period but longer follow-up is needed. 5. Voluntary testing allows people to make informed decisions about life events and may therefore help in the control of the HIV epidemic in Zambia.

Keywords: AEGIS, Counseling, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Seroprevalence, Zambia, Health Personnel, Attitude to Health, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Questionnaires, Health Services Needs and Demand, Child, ICA9KWDaegis,counseling,hivseropositivity,hivseroprevalence,zambia,healthpersonnel,attitudetohealth,seroepidemiologicstudies,questionnaires,healthservicesneedsanddemand,child,ica9
930606
WSD194

Copyright © 1993 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.