Aberle-Grasse J, Killam WP, Newman DR, Limbe WE, Davis M; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. C11819.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lilongwe, Malawi

Background: VCT services need to expand in Sub-Sahara African countries for prevention of HIV transmission and as an entry point into care. Malawi is poised to expand its VCT services and can take advantage of VCT service data to date. This study was carried out to describe VCT clients' demographic and behavior characteristics, reasons for seeking services and risk factors associated with HIV. Methods: Records of 101,427 initial client visits from March 2000 to December 2002 from 3 stand-alone VCT centers were analyzed. Client visits consisted of HIV whole blood rapid tests and pre- and post-test counseling sessions with results provided during the visit. We analyzed the frequencies of client characteristics and identified HIV+ associated factors using a multivariate model. Results: VCT clients were most likely to be unmarried (59%), unemployed (62%) men (74%) age<25 (56%) with at least a secondary school education (65%). While 94% of clients ever had sex, 83% reported no (29%) or only one (55%) partner in the last 6 months. 90% of clients reporting on condom use indicated inconsistent (68%) or no condom use (22%) in the last 3 months. 46% of all clients said the main reason for seeking services was there own or a partner's risky behavior, another 8% reported feeling ill. While 27% reported planning for the future (18%) or marriage (9%) as their main reason, few clients (7%) sought VCT services as couples. Nearly all (99%) clients were tested and received their results. The overall HIV+ rate was 16%; (11% men, 30% women). Characteristics and behaviors associated (95% c.i) with HIV+ status included being employed, female, age 25 or more, inconsistent or no condom use and 2+ sex partners in the last 6 months. Conclusions: The most common VCT client characteristics were not those associated with HIV infection, though most clients sought services due to perceived risk or illness. HIV infection in this population was associated with commonly recognized risk behaviors.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Africa, Northern
• Counseling
• Educational Status
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Interviews as Topic
• Malawi
• Male
• Risk Factors
• Risk-Taking
• therapy

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0033216

UI: 102277430

From Meeting Abstracts