Determinants of Provider Initiated HIV Counseling and Testing among patients visiting Health Care Facilities in Sheka Zone, South West Ethiopia
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Date
2010-07
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: Ensuring widespread access to and utilization of HIV testing is a central element of a
successful response to HIV/AIDS. Increasing the number of people who know their HIV status is an
essential means of preventing HIV transmission and of improving the reach of treatment and care
services. World Health Organization recommends; all adult patients visiting health facilities should be
provided PIHCT as way forward in generalized HIV epidemic setting. Ethiopia has adopted routine
HCT since 2007.After implementation of policy the magnitude and possible factors associated with
accepting PIHCT were not well documented in Ethiopia in general and sheka zone in particular.
Method: Cross-sectional comparative study was employed in order to identify different factors
contributing to accepting and non-accepting. Total of 484 subjects 363 acceptors and 121 non-acceptors
were selected among physically and mentally capable of giving consent (as part country policy) patients
Three acceptors were taken for each non acceptor .Face to face interview was employed using structured
questionnaire. For data management and analysis SPSS 11 and Epi –info3.3.2 statistical soft wares were
used.
Result. Fear of learning own HIV status, confidentiality and less risk perception were mentioned by
majority of respondents as barrier of HIV testing. Also some attitude were highlighted as potential
barriers ; PIHCT may lead to more violence against women related to test and may lead to avoidance of
seeking other health care services for fear of HIV test. After all, being male, (AOR=2.02 CI (1.21, 3.36))
having previous history of HIV test (AOR=2.65 CI (1.60, 4.41)) and belief that ART can improve health
of patients (AOR=0.45 CI (0.23, 0.90)) were found to be predictors of PIHCT acceptance.
Conclusion and Recommendation: In order to address universal access, implementers should take the
above potential barriers under consideration .The authors believe emphasizing on informed consent,
confidentiality and counseling can potentially solve most of the problems.
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Keywords
Assessment of Health Care Seeking Behavior at Household Level