BackgroundHIV counselling and testing (HCT) and knowledge about HIV have been key strategies utilised in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS worldwide. HIV knowledge and uptake of HCT services in sub-Saharan Africa are still low. This study was conducted to determine factors associated with HCT and HIV/AIDS knowledge levels among a commuter population in Johannesburg, South Africa.ObjectiveTo identify the factors associated with HCT uptake among the commuter population.DesignA simple random sampling method was used to select participants in a venue-based intercept survey at a taxi rank in the Johannesburg Central Business District. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis assessed factors associated with HIV testing stratified by gender.Results1,146 respondents were interviewed, the maority (n=579, 50.5%) were females and (n=780, 68.1%) were over 25 years of age. Overall HCT knowledge was high (n=951, 83%) with more females utilising HCT facilities. There was a significant difference in HIV testing for respondents living closer to and further away from health facilities. Slightly more than half of the respondents indicated stigma as one of the barriers for testing (n=594, 52%, p-value=0.001). For males, living with a partner (aOR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.02–2.78, p-value: 0.041) and possessing a post-primary education were positively associated with testing (aOR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.15–3.47, p-value: 0.014), whereas stigma and discrimination reduced the likelihood of testing (aOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.31–0.62, p-value: <0.001). For females, having one sexual partner (aOR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.19–5.90, p-value: 0.017) and a low perceived benefit for HIV testing (aOR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30–0.96, p-value: 0.035) were associated with HIV testing.ConclusionThe overall HIV/AIDS knowledge was generally high. Gender-specific health education and HIV intervention programmes are needed for improved access to HCT services. One favourable intervention would be the use of home-based HCT programmes.

BackgroundPatient retention in care for HIV/AIDS is a critical challenge for antiretroviral treatment programs. Community-based adherence programs (CBAPs) as compared to health care facility-based adherence programs have been considered as one of the options to provide treatment maintenance support for groups of patients on antiretroviral therapy. Such an approach provides a way of enhancing self-management of the patient’s condition. In addition, CBAPs have been implemented to support antiretroviral treatment expansion in resource-limited settings. CBAPs involve 30 patients that are allocated to a group and meet at either a facility or a community venue for less than an hour every 2 or 3 months depending on the supply of medication. Our study aimed to establish perceived challenges in moving adherence clubs from health facilities to communities.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted in 39 clinics in Mpumalanga and Gauteng Provinces in South Africa between December 2015 and January 2016. Purposive sampling method was used to identify nurses, club managers, data capturers, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants who had been involved in facility-based treatment adherence clubs. Key-informant interviews were conducted. Also, semi-structured interviews were used and thematic content analysis was done.ResultsA total of 53 health care workers, 12 (22.6%) males and 41 (77.4%) females, participated in the study. Most of them 49 (92.5%) indicated that participating in community adherence clubs were a good idea. Reduction in waiting time at the health facilities, in defaulter rate, improvement in adherence to treatment as well as reduction in stigma were some of the perceived benefits. However, security of medication, storage conditions and transportation of the prepacked medication to the distribution sites were the areas of concern.ConclusionHealth care workers were agreeable to idea of the moving adherence clubs from health facilities to communities. Although some challenges were identified, these could be addressed by the key stakeholders. However, government and nongovernmental organizations need to exercise caution when transitioning to community-based adherence clubs.

BackgroundNoncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major global health challenges in developed countries and are rapidly increasing globally. Perception of self-efficacy is important for complex activities and long-term changes in health behavior. This study aimed to determine whether self-efficacy mediates the effect of individual beliefs (perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits and barriers) among informal settlement residents’ health behavior in relation to the prevention and management of NCDs.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using a closed-ended questionnaire among informal settlement residents in Diepsloot, Johannesburg. The proposed model was tested using structural equation modeling (AMOS software).ResultsA total of 2,277 participants were interviewed during this survey, consisting of 1,236 (54.3%) females, with the majority of them aged between 20 and 29 years. All constructs in the questionnaire had a good reliability with a Cronbach’s alpha of >0.7. Perceived benefits and perceived barriers were the strongest predictors of self-efficacy, with the highest beta values of 0.14 and 0.15, respectively. Once associated with perceived self-efficacy, the direct effect of perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits on health behavior was statistically nonsignificant (P=0.0894 and P=0.2839, respectively). Perceived benefits and perceived susceptibility were totally mediated by self-efficacy. The indirect effects of perceived severity and perceived barriers (through self-efficacy) on health behavior were significant. Thus, perceived severity and perceived barriers were partially mediated by self-efficacy.ConclusionPerceived susceptibility and perceived benefits did not affect health behavior unless associated with self-efficacy. In contrast, individual perception of the seriousness of NCDs and perceived barriers might still have a direct influence on health behavior even if the person does not feel able to prevent NCDs. However, this influence would be more significant when perceived severity and perceived barriers of NCDs are associated with self-efficacy.

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High acceptability of HBHCT among urban-based commuters plus factors that would deter HBHCT acceptability were identified. Further research to identify strategies to improve HBHCT acceptability among commuter populations is needed.