16th International AIDS Conference Toronto, Canada - August 13 - 18, 2006

VOLUNTARY COUNSELING AND TESTING: FINDINGS FROM CAMBODIA

Int Conf AIDS. 2006 Aug 13-18;16 Abstract No. TuAc0102

C. Ly¹, P. Keo¹, V. Khim¹, H. Kheng², K. O'Connell¹, N. Likhite^2
1 Population Services International, Monitoring and Evaluation, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, ² Population Services International, Health Services Department, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

BACKGROUND: The number of government approved voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) sites has increased, from 12 in 2000 to 106 in 2005. We triangulate data from four studies to report on findings related to VCT and HIV testing.

METHODS: Data come from two household surveys conducted in 2003 (N=3,643) and 2005 (N=2,090); one tracking study with sexually active men with sweethearts in Phnom Penh (SAMS) (N=640); and a mystery client survey (MCS) in a private VCT site.

RESULTS: Household data reveal an increase in knowledge about two benefits of VCT between 2003 and 2005 (p<.01). A greater proportion of respondents in 2005 acknowledged that VCT allows recipients to plan for the future (p<.01), helps protect loved ones from infection (p<.01) and can put ones mind at rest (p<.01). There was a significant increase between 2003 and 2005 in the proportion of people who knew of a VCT location (p<.001). No change was observed in HIV testing rates over time. In 2005, the proportion tested for HIV testing was low in rural areas (7.9%), but slightly higher in urban areas (16.2%) and highest in Phnom Penh (27.2%) – though 89% said they were interested in receiving a test. Among SAMS, receipt of an HIV test without counseling in the last year showed a negative relationship with reported consistent condom use with sweethearts (p<.01). Findings from MCS revealed that private providers do not always offer counseling to patients who test negative for HIV.

CONCLUSIONS: Demand for VCT is high and Cambodians appear informed about its benefits. However, few have actually been tested for HIV, particularly in rural areas. Providers must deliver counseling to all clients regardless of serostatus. They must also prevent a false sense of security among patients who test negative and encourage them to practice safe sexual behavior.

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2006-08-13
TuAc0102

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