AEGiS-10IAC: Counselling blood donors (VBD) tested HIV positive in India.

10th International AIDS Conference


Yokohama, Japan — Aug 7-12, 1994

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Counselling blood donors (VBD) tested HIV positive in India.

Int Conf AIDS 1994 Aug 7-12; 10:389 (abstract no. PD0739)
Pujari S, Oak V, Khatavkar P, Pujari P, Wahi S; Health Plus, AIDS Counselling Centre, Pune, India.

ISSUE: In India, according to a government directive, blood banks are instructed not to inform VBD's tested HIV positive about their HIV positive status. This deprives them the opportunity to make decisions relating to behaviour modification and plan their lives.

METHOD: Opinion of blood bank director's about this directive was assessed by questionnaires and focal group meetings. HIV positive VBD's were called back to the blood bank by a carefully worded letter. In spite of knowing their HIV status, pre test counselling was provided, followed by repeat testing and post test counselling. Effectiveness of this service was assessed both at the client and blood bank level by questionnaires and personal interviews.

RESULTS: Prevalence of HIV infection in VBD's is 1.5-2%. Though all blood banks felt that donors should be informed about their HIV positive status, 86% could actually start counselling services with the help of this agency. While 82% VBD's returned after receiving the letter, almost 98% felt that it was good that they were informed.

CONCLUSION: Counselling services to inform VBD's about their HIV positive status at blood banks should be started in India. The idea of providing pre test counselling, in spite of knowing HIV positive results, helps to buffer the shock of knowing the positive result. The government should reconsider this directive and this model can be effectively adapted not only to the whole of India but in countries facing similar problems.

Keywords: AEGIS, Counseling, Blood Donors, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Blood Banks, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Prevalence, Sezary Syndrome, India, PVB protocol, Human, ICA10KWDaegis,counseling,blooddonors,hivseropositivity,hivinfections,bloodbanks,antineoplasticcombinedchemotherapyprotocols,prevalence,sezarysyndrome,india,pvbprotocol,human,ica10
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PD0739

Copyright © 1994 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.