Determinants of HIV-VCT Acceptance in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: a Case Control Study
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Date
2006-11
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: HIV/AIDS has become the most devastating global epidemic the world has
ever faced. Early knowledge of HIV infection is now recognized as a critical component
in controlling the spread of HIV infection and, for people with HIV infection, as an entry
point for treatment, care and support.
Objective: To identify the determinants of HIV-VCT acceptance in Gondar town,
Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: The study design was case-control, where the cases are those who accepted
VCT and the controls are those who did not accept VCT. A total of 115 cases and 230
controls from Gondar town were included in the study. The data was summarized and
organized using tables and texts. Associations between different exploratory variables
and outcome variable (VCT acceptance) was made using odds ratio with confidence
intervals. Multiple logistic regressions were used to show the impact of different
determinants for VCT acceptance by controlling different confounders at the same time.
P-value less than 5% was considered significant.
Results: VCT acceptance was about seven times (OR = 6.91, 95% CI 1.21, 39.52) more
likely to occur among unmarried than those who were divorced, separated and/or
windowed. VCT acceptance was less likely (OR = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01, 0.15) to occur
among students than those who were employed.
VCT acceptance was about 4.75 times (OR = 4.75, 95% CI 1.05, 21.45) more likely to
occur among those ever had sex than their counterparts. Those who had self-perceived
risk and had knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods were about 6 times (OR =
6.08, 95% CI 1.89, 19.54) and 21.12 times (OR = 21.12, 95% CI 6.38, 69.95) more likely
to accept VCT than their counterparts respectively. VCT acceptance were less likely (OR
= 0.03, 95% CI 0.01, 0.14) and (OR = 0.03, 95% CI 0.00, 0.42) to occur among those
know that a healthy-looking person can have the virus and those had knowledge of STIs
respectively than their counterparts.
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As to the problems related with VCT, those didn't know friends response was about 19
times (OR = 19.08, 95% CI 4.73, 77.00) more likely to occur among VCT acceptors than
their counterparts, while didn't trust confidentiality of VCT services was less likely (OR
= 0.19, 95% CI 0.06, 0.62) to occur among VCT acceptors than non-acceptors. VCT
acceptance was less likely (OR = 0.06, 95% CI 0.02, 0.25) to occur among those said no
change in relation to HIV positive partner than those said gradually separated.
Conclusions and recommendations: Those unmarried, had initiated sex, self-perceived
risk, knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods and don't know friend's response are
more likely to accept VCT. Being a student, those know that a healthy-looking person
can have the virus and those had knowledge of STIs are less likely to accept VCT. Those
had problems of don't trust confidentiality of VCT service and those have intention of no
change in relationship to HIV positive partner are less likely to accept VCT. Efforts to
promote VCT require education about the benefits of testing to students and women in
particular and all groups of individuals in general and organizing VCT service to make
more acceptable to different groups of people is recommended.
Key words: VCT-acceptance, Determinants of VCT, Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia.
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Keywords
VCT-acceptance, Determinants of VCT, Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia