ASSESSMENT OF VOLUNTARY CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELLING AND HIV TESTING (VCCT) SERVICE UTILIZATION IN GURAGE ZONE, SNNPR, SOUTH ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Voluntary confidential counseling and testing (VCCT) is one of the available strategies for control and prevention of HIV infection. HIV.VCCT provides a critical entry point for both HIV/AIDS prevention and care and support of HIV infected and affected individuals, Gurage zone has decentralized the service to woreda level However, reports show that there was low utilisation of the service. The objective of the study was to assess utilisation of VCCT services in Gurage zone south Ethiopia.

METHODS: A cross-sectional community based study was carried out among people aged 10 to 50 years in Gurage Zone South Nations and Nationalities Peoples Regions (SNNPR) from October 13-28, 2004. A total of 657 participants were involved in the study from 52 Kebele in 12 woredas involving both urban and rural communities.

RESULTS: Overall, 13.5% of the study participants used VCCT service. Most people used the service outside Gurage zone. Twenty three percent of the respondents do not want to use VCCT service near their residences. Married subjects and those in the age group from 15-34 years used VCCT services more than the other counterparts and this difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Subjects who had a positive attitude towards VCCT and other preventive methods against HIV infection used VCCT service significantly (P<0.05) more than their counterparts. Other background characteristics like educational status, sex, place of residence, religion, occupation of subjects and their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and VCCT did not show association with VCCT service utilization (P>0.05). The reasons for nor utilizing VCCT services among others included: thinking that they are free of the infection, belief that it was not usual for other people to get screened except people who are preparing for marriage, distance of the VCCT site from residence and/or problem of transportation to the VCCT site, not knowing the presence of VCCT service, postponing it and fear of positive result and stigma.