Willingness to home based HIV counseling and testing service among residents in Chagni town administration and Guangua wereda, West Amhara region
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Date
2011-05
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Introduction: HIV/ AIDS continue to be a major global health priority. HIV counseling and testing
is a key strategic entry point to prevention, treatment, care and support services. But according to
EDHS 2005 voluntary HIV counseling and testing utilization in Ethiopia is low; this means: people
living with HIV get testing and counseling only when they already have advanced clinical disease.
Assessing willingness of home based HIV counseling and testing service is essential for promoting,
expanding and accessing HIV counselling and testing service to the community.
Objective: To assess willingness to home based HIV counseling and testing service among residents
in Chagni town administration and Guangua wereda.
Methodology: Cross-sectional household survey both quantitative and qualitative methods was
conducted from August 2010 to June 2011.
Result: A total of 480 study participants were included in the study with the response rate of 99.6%.
Of the total respondents 243(50.6%) were females. The mean age of the respondents was 30 years
(±sd 9). This study also indicated that 445(92.7%) the respondents were willing to undergo HIV
counselling and testing at home. Multivariate analysis showed that study participants who ever had
HIV test, participants who knew availability of VCT service in their locality and respondents who
ever had sexual intercourse have statistically significant association with willingness to have HIV test
at home. But only 190 (39.6%) respondents ever had HIV test. The main reasons of HIV test were to
know self status and to plan future life, on the other hand the main reasons for not had HIV test were
self and partner trust followed by fear to know results. Multivariate analysis showed that being
married, individuals who had good knowledge about HIV/AIDS and individuals who had none
stigmatizing and discriminating attitude were more likely to utilize VCT service.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Even though majority of the study participants were willing to
undergo HIV counseling and testing at home, only few respondents ever had HIV test. Based on the
finding BCC/IEC activities should be strengthened to promote VCT service utilization, to increase
knowledge of HIV/AIDS and to reduce stigma and discrimination. Home based HIV counselling and
testing should be implemented by wereda health office in collaboration with wereda HAPCO and
other organizations working on HIV/AIDS by integrating to existing Health Extension Package.
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Willingness to home based HIV counseling