Factors Associated With VCT Utilization in Guraghe Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia
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Date
2004-04
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
A case-control study was conducted from November 2003 to January 2004 to investigate the
association of socio-demographic variables with VCT use and to assess determinants of VCT
service utilization using both Quantitative and Qualitative methods of data collections.
A total of 636 individuals (212 cases and 424 controls), who came to health institutions that
deliver VCT services in Guraghe Zone, were enrolled in the study. Twelve (5.7%) of cases and
82 (19.3%) of controls (non-VCT users), 94 (14.8%) of the total study subjects had not have
heard of VCT in general. The main reason for VCT utilization among cases was pre-marital 160
(75.5%) and the main reasons for non-use among controls were partner-and self-trust (23.1%),
no information about it (17.8%), other social reasons (13.7%) and lack of nearby services
(13.0%).
The majority (82.8%) of cases were in the age groups of 15-19 and 20-29 years. Study
participants were 54.7% males, 78.3% rural by residence, 54.7% followers of orthodox religion,
80.7% Guraghe by ethnicity, 37.3% farmers by occupation, the majority (67%) had educational
status of elementary and below and 80.7% were unmarried.
Religion, Muslim & other Christianity, secondary and above educational status, other
occupational status, singleness and non-polygamous union showed statistically significant
positive associations with VCT utilization. Attitudes related to stigma and discrimination showed
statistically significant positive associations with cases but there was no statistically significant
difference regarding knowledge and practice between cases and controls.
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Confidential testing, Physicians as counselors, and face-to-face way of receiving HIV VCT test
result were the preferred VCT schemes by most respondents and FGD participants.
Most health institutions do not have referral system for social support, targeted VCT, follow up
training and supervision, referral for indeterminate HIV VCT test results.
Maximizing pre-marital VCT with proper information dissemination targeting the rural
community, involving all possible stakeholders and using local resources, follow-up training
and supervision and setting up referral systems are recommended.
Key words: VCT utilization, Case-Control, Stigma, Discrimination, Service quality
Description
Keywords
VCT utilization, Case-Control, Stigma, Discrimination, Service quality