AEGiS-11IAC: Behaviour change among TASO clients: an impact of counselling.

11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

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Behaviour change among TASO clients: an impact of counselling.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:484 (abstract no. Pub.D.1298)
Otolok-Tanga E; The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), Kampala, Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: To determine and describe factors associated with behavior change and other coping mechanisms adopted by TASO clients on receiving counselling services.

METHODS: A cohort of 493 sexual active TASO clients, 15 - 65 years of age, registered between Oct. to Dec. 1993, were sampled and followed for a period of six months. Interpersonal interviews were held once every month whereby a counsellor gathered the relevant information on selected indicators. Other information was extracted retrospectively from the clients' files.

RESULTS: The study established changes from baseline to last follow up as follows: Change in the number of partners of the 402 clients :50 (12-4%) reduced, 340 (84.6%) maintained and 12 (2.9%) increased their sexual partners, that was 0.132 mean decrease and reduction effected within 3 months. Reasons included fear of re-infection 40%, partners died 22%, separated 22%. A significant increase in the percentage of clients adopting safer sex practices was recorded: Condom use 19.7%, abstinence 16.7%, others adopted. Reduction in numbers of sexual partners, faithfulness and non penetrative sex. There was a significant increase of 17.9% of clients who had made wills at baseline (6.6%, N=486), at last follow up (24.5%, N=388). Participation in AIDS education program, peer education 20.4%, referral 34.6%, AIDS education 22.4% and counselling 14.0%. All the changes recorded were statistically significant (P - Value = less than 0.0001). Conclusion &

DISCUSSION: The behaviour change adopted by TASO clients was as a result of counselling received. There is need however, to research on the impact of counselling on behaviour change amongst non-clients and evaluate the above indicators accordingly.

Keywords: AEGIS, Counseling, Sexual Partners, Coitus, Safe Sex, Adaptation, Psychological, Human, ICA11KWDaegis,counseling,sexualpartners,coitus,safesex,adaptation,psychological,human,ica11

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PubD1298

Copyright © 1996 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.