ISSN: 2375-379X
Health Sciences Research  
Manuscript Information
 
 
Knowledge, Attitude and Factors Affecting Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services Among Women in an Abuja Suburb Community
Health Sciences Research
Vol.5 , No. 2, Publication Date: May 16, 2018, Page: 50-58
1840 Views Since May 16, 2018, 567 Downloads Since May 16, 2018
 
 
Authors
 
[1]    

Bibiana Nonye Egenti, Department of Community Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.

[2]    

Emmanuel Paul Odiba, Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.

[3]    

Amos Dangana, Department of Medical Laboratory Services, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria.

[4]    

Ramsey Msheliza Yalma, Department of Community Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.

[5]    

Idris Abdullahi Nasir, Department of Medical Laboratory Services, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

 
Abstract
 

The entry point to prevention, treatment and control measure of HIV infection is Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT). This study sought to assess the level of awareness, attitude and perception of VCT among women of reproductive age group in Passo community, Abuja, Nigeria. Between 1st May to 31st July of 2017, interviewer-based questionnaires was used to assess the socio-demographic data, knowledge of VCT, perception and attitude towards utilization of VCT and factors affecting VCT utilization. The community was divided into three (3) settlements, each having fifty (50) households, from which one respondent was randomly selected for the study. Seventy (46.7%) of the 150 respondents were aware of VCT; sixty two (62) were not aware and have no knowledge of VCT. There is significant association between occupation and level of education (p<0.05) and knowledge of VCT. There is no significant association between marital status, age and the level of awareness of VCT (p>0.05). Ninety percent of the respondents believed VCT is useful in preventing mother to child transmission of HIV, 116 (89.9%) believed its useful to those preparing for marriage, 112 (86.8%) believed VCT is necessary for pregnant women, while 102 (79.1%) believed VCT is useful to those who needed to know their HIV status. Respondents believed that stigmatization and discrimination (87.3%), attitude of health workers administering VCT (78.7%), location of VCT center (76.7%), and doubt about clients’ confidentiality (63.3%) are the leading factors affecting VCT utilization. Despite favourable attitude towards VCT by study respondents, majority of them were not aware of VCT. In consideration to factors that may limit VCT utilization by people, it’s recommended that mass education of utilization of VCT using appropriate physiological approach be considered by health workers and policy makers.


Keywords
 

HIV/AIDS, Voluntary Counseling and Testing, HIV Prevention, Nigeria


Reference
 
[01]    

AIDS care 2002. perception of voluntary screening for paediatric HIV and response to post-test counseling by Nigerian parents.

[02]    

World Health Organization. Guidance on provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling in health facilities. 2007. Accessed on http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/vct/PITCguidelines.pdf last accessed 20th January, 2018.

[03]    

Weiss D, Kahl JF. How does HIV cause AIDS? Science. 1993; 260 (5112): 1273–9.

[04]    

Douek DC, Roederer M, Koup RAEmerging Concepts in the Immunopathogenesis of AIDS. Annu. Rev. Med. 2009; 60: 471–84.

[05]    

UNAIDS, WHO (December 2007). 2007 AIDS epidemic update (PDF). p. 10. Retrieved 2008-03-12.

[06]    

Cunningham AL, Donaghy H, Harman AN, Kim M, Turville SG. Manipulation of dendritic cell function by viruses. Current opinion in microbiology. 2010; 13 (4): 524–529.

[07]    

Doitsh G, Galloway NL, Geng X, Yang Z, Monroe KM, Zepeda O, Hunt PW, Hatano H. Cell death by pyroptosis drives CD4 T-cell depletion in HIV-1 infection. Nature. 2014; 505 (7484): 509–514.

[08]    

Garg H, Mohl J, Joshi A. HIV-1 induced bystander apoptosis. Viruses. 2009; 4 (11): 3020–43. PMC 3509682 . PMID 23202514. doi: 10.3390/v4113020.

[09]    

Kumar V. Robbins Basic Pathology (9th ed.). 2012; p. 147. ISBN 9781455737871.

[10]    

Desta WG, Sinishaw MA, Bizuneh KD. Factors Affecting Utilization of Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services among Teachers in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. AIDS Research and Treatment Volume 2017, Article ID 9034282, https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9034282

[11]    

Wang EE. Estimates of global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and mortality of HIV, 1980–2015: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". The Lancet HIV. 2015; 3 (8): e361–e387.

[12]    

"HIV/AIDS - People Living with HIV/AIDS"CIA World Factbook (2014) Accessed May 11, 2016. Available at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2156rank.html Accessed on 23rd January, 2017.

[13]    

Leta TH, Sandøy IF, Fylkesne K. Factors affecting voluntary HIV counselling and testing among men in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health. 2012; 12: 438.

[14]    

Apanga PA, Akparibo R, Awoonor-Williams JK. Factors influencing uptake of voluntary counselling and testing services for HIV/AIDS in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality (LMKM) in the Eastern Region of Ghana: a cross-sectional household survey - Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. 2015; 33: 23.

[15]    

Suthar AB, Ford N, Bachanas PJ, Wong VJ, Rajan JS. Towards Universal Voluntary HIV Testing and Counselling: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Community-Based Approaches. PLoS Med. 2013; 10 (8): e1001496. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001496.

[16]    

Epule ET, Mirielle MW, Peng C, Nguh BS, Nyagero JM, Lakati A, Mafany NM. Utilization Rates and Perceptions of (VCT) Services in Kisii Central District, Kenya. Glob J Health Sci. 2013; Vol; 5 (1): 35–43.

[17]    

Elfeno R, Yimam R. Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards VCT, among Jimma Teachers Training college Students, Jimma town Oromia region, Southwestern Ethiopia, Int J Educ Res Tech. 2015; 6 (1): 61-73.

[18]    

Danasabe HU. Knowledge and Utilization of Voluntary Counselling and Testing Services on Prevention of HIV/AIDS among students of Tertiary Institutions in Bauchi State, Nigeria Department Of Physical and Health Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria. August, 2014.

[19]    

Eze CK. Knowledge and Compliance of Ebonyi state university undergraduates to voluntary counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS. Available at https://www.projectslib.com/projects/levels/masters-thesis/knowledge-and-compliance-of-ebonyi-state-university-undergraduates-to-voluntary-counselling-and-testing-for-hiv-aids/ Accessed on 20th January, 2018.

[20]    

Michael D. Study on factors affecting accessibility acceptability of VCT service for HIV/AIDS in Bahir Dar town, North West Ethiopia, Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia. 2001. Accessable at https://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/files/ETH_2001_801.pdf Last accessed on 20th January, 2018.





 
  Join Us
 
  Join as Reviewer
 
  Join Editorial Board
 
share:
 
 
Submission
 
 
Membership