Azubike U, Nwashili C, Grant-Isibor I; IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment (2nd : 2003 : Paris, France).

Antivir Ther. 2003; 8 (Suppl.1): abstract no. 1208.

Uproot Aids Organisation, Lagos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: There has been a growing realization over the years of the crucial role that HIV counselling has to play in mounting a response to the epidemic. More recent evidence of this thinking has been the National Department of Health's (1999/2000) strategic plan for counselling, which directs that counselling and testing services should be developed on a countrywide scale, in order to accomplish the central primary and secondary prevention goals articulated in the international counselling literature. The assessment of the public sector VCT sites in 2002 was aimed at informing the National Department about progress made thus far with the implementation of their VCT programme. METHODS: Sites were stratified into provinces and clustered by urban, rural and township sites and were proportionally sampled for weighted representation. From the total of 438 sites reported to be functional by December 2001, 178 sites were sampled representing 39 urban, 86 rural and 54 township sites across the country. A checklist was administered in each of the selected sites to assess the readiness and performance of the infrastructure to provide VCT. In addition, effectiveness of management systems were also assessed. RESULTS: There were variations in the quality and adequacy of the physical infrastructure within and between provinces. In general most provinces had acceptable physical infrastructure, however, the most pressing needs were for sufficient storage space and waiting and reception areas. Registers of HIV test results were reportedly kept in a secure and confidential place, inaccessible to people who did not work with VCT clients. CONCLUSION: Sites that fail to meet the criteria of providing comfortable waiting and reception areas and private rooms for counselling must be identified. An assessment of the VCT sites that meet the criteria should be used to upgrade the lacking sites, rather than using a blanket plan to upgrade all health infrastructures in a district or province. The present referral system can be expanded to include services outside the health sector, which might support and promote the use of VCT.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Child
• Counseling
• Disease Transmission, Vertical
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Mothers
• Rural Population
• methods
• transmission

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0023855

UI: 102263479

From Meeting Abstracts