Profiles of HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing of Clients at a District Hospital, Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand, from 1995 to 1999

Abstract

Voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) is a central component of comprehensive HIV prevention strategies targeting individual risk reduction. VCT data are essential for planning and improving HIV/AIDS intervention strategies. The objective of this study is to describe demographic profiles, reasons for seeking HIV counseling and testing, rate of declining HIV testing after pretest counseling, rate of failure to return for HIV test results, and HIV prevalence and associations among 3570 clients who sought VCT at Sansai Hospital in northern Thailand from 1995 to 1999. Data were abstracted retrospectively from client-level data recorded by the hospital counselors on a standard form. HIV prevalence was 29% and remained high throughout the study period. Reasons for seeking VCT for men and women were markedly different and highly correlated with rates of declining the test, failure to return for test results, and HIV prevalence. Declining VCT and failing to return were high among uneducated clients (p <.001). Failure to return among men was associated with HIV prevalence (OR = 1.72, p =.003), particularly for those who had risk behaviors (OR = 5.92, p <.001) and those who wanted to know their HIV serostatus (OR = 4.44, p =.002). Overall, VCT acceptance and returning for test results were high. VCT services at the community level can reach high-risk individuals, especially male partners of women tested as part of routine prenatal care.

Personal History of Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (VCT) Among Adults Aged 19–35 Years Living in Peri-urban Communities, Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

“…This rate is similar to that in clients accessing VCT at Sansai Hospital, a large counseling center in northern Thailand (Kawichai et al, 2002). The rates of return to get test results among persons tested in Thailand is substantially higher than that reported in the United States.…”

Knowledge and attitude toward HIV voluntary counseling and testing services among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in Sudan

“…In other African countries, over 85% of interviewed pregnant women knew that HIV could be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby [Ngare et al, 2001]. However, in China, 40% of the pregnant women were reported to know about maternal to child transmission [Kawichai et al, 2002]. Likewise, in West Africa, the vast majority of pregnant women were not aware of vertical transmission [Cartoux et al, 1998].…”

Knowledge, Use, and Concerns about Contraceptive Methods among Sero-Discordant Couples in Rwanda and Zambia

“…Couples receive joint, same-day HIV counseling and testing at the CVCT clinics, an intervention with proven efficacy in reducing HIV incidence among heterosexual couples in the African setting. [14][15][16][17][18] Couples meeting eligibility criteria are invited to participate in ongoing clinical studies based at the two research centers. Couples that agree to be enrolled in studies return to the research centers every 3 months for follow-up visits, during which time behavioral and clinical data are collected, and health care, referrals, counseling, and free condoms are offered to study participants.…”