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FACTORS INFLUENCING ACCEPTABILITY OF VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING FOR HIV IN BUSHENYI DISTRICT OF UGANDA
Abstract
Objective: To understand the factors influencing choice of voluntary counselling and
testing (VCT) for HIV with a view of suggesting measures for increased uptake.
Design: Focus group discussions were used to elicit reasons for carrying out VCT and
a cross sectional survey to estimate the proportion of people who undertake VCT.
Setting: Bushenyi district, Uganda.
Participants: A cluster random sample of 219 people and four purposively selected focus
group discussions with 32 participants.
Main outcome measures: Elicited attitudinal beliefs, self-efficacy expectations, and social
influences that are probably associated with VCT for HIV based on the Attitude Social
influence self-Efficacy (ASE) Model. The proportion of people who had ever undertaken
VCT for HIV was also determined.
Results: Thirty-eight(17%) of the 219 people interviewed had ever undergone HIV. The
factors influencing VCT for HIV were consequences of a test result, influences from
a sexual partner, cost of VCT, physical accessibility of VCT, awareness, risk of HIV
infection, need for linking VCT with care (especially availability of anti-retrovirals) and
perceived quality of care of VCT services.
Conclusions: Increased mobilisation and access for VCT, reducing costs of VCT, linking
of VCT with care, and emphasising the positive consequences of VCT as well as providing
high quality VCT services may increase the number of people seeking VCT.
testing (VCT) for HIV with a view of suggesting measures for increased uptake.
Design: Focus group discussions were used to elicit reasons for carrying out VCT and
a cross sectional survey to estimate the proportion of people who undertake VCT.
Setting: Bushenyi district, Uganda.
Participants: A cluster random sample of 219 people and four purposively selected focus
group discussions with 32 participants.
Main outcome measures: Elicited attitudinal beliefs, self-efficacy expectations, and social
influences that are probably associated with VCT for HIV based on the Attitude Social
influence self-Efficacy (ASE) Model. The proportion of people who had ever undertaken
VCT for HIV was also determined.
Results: Thirty-eight(17%) of the 219 people interviewed had ever undergone HIV. The
factors influencing VCT for HIV were consequences of a test result, influences from
a sexual partner, cost of VCT, physical accessibility of VCT, awareness, risk of HIV
infection, need for linking VCT with care (especially availability of anti-retrovirals) and
perceived quality of care of VCT services.
Conclusions: Increased mobilisation and access for VCT, reducing costs of VCT, linking
of VCT with care, and emphasising the positive consequences of VCT as well as providing
high quality VCT services may increase the number of people seeking VCT.
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