Assessment of factors affecting willingness to HIV counselling and testing among patients presenting with the conventional Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Addis Ababa
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2007-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
There is ample scientific evidence that a person with an untreated STI, particularly those
inducing ulcers or discharge, is at an increased risk of passing on or acquiring HIV during
sexual intercourse. HIV CT for STI cases is thus an important tool in the public health
response to HIV/AIDS. A descriptive, cross-sectional study, involving 422 STI cases, was
conducted to assess factors affecting willingness towards HIV CT among patients presenting
with the conventional STIs in Addis Ababa, from December 2006 to April 2007. STI patients
were consecutively selected during an outpatient visit in ten government health centers which
were purposively selected mainly on the basis of their high STI case load. A pre-tested,
interviewer administered, structured questionnaire was applied for data collection. OR with
95% CI was used to measure the degree of association between associated factors and
willingness towards HIV CT and, logistic regression analysis was done to identify predictors
of willingness towards HIV CT.
Overall, 73.9% of STI patients said that they would be willing to undergo HIV CT at the time
or 3 months after their STI diagnosis. Furthermore, 97.4% and 71.8% of STI patients had
heard about HIV/AIDS and STIs, respectively. Nearly 93% of STI patients knew at least one
prevention method, and 61.2% identified all the three major methods for preventing
HIV/AIDS. Overall, 43.8% of the STI patients had at least one misconception, and 38% had
comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Moreover, 74% of STI patients said that they
never used condoms during the previous 12 months. The proportion of those who reported
ever had HIV test was 45%. More than half (61.5%) of the STI patients reported ‘no or low
chance’ of acquiring HIV and the main reason they gave was they trusted their partner. One or
more stigmatizing attitudes also prevailed in 33.3% of the STI patients. Ever tested for HIV,
being in the age group of 15-34 years, and perceiving small or moderate chance of contracting
the HIV infection were found out to be significantly associated with willingness towards HIV
CT.
The findings of this study indicated the need for promotion and expansion of sustainable
provider initiated HIV CT with subsequent follow up to STI patients as part of a continuum of
services and support, and intensive patient-centered risk reduction counseling for STI cases
during the initial visit to health care facilities.
Description
Keywords
Assessment of factors affecting willingness to HIV