Mukabarasi T, Uzamuranga E, Bangendanye L, Ouattara A, Murray D; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeE6782.

Family Health International, Kigali, Rwanda

Issues: Family Health International, with funds from USAID, collaborated with the MOH to develop 22 VCT services in 8 of 12 provinces. Use of VCT services by both males and females has been high despite limited promotional efforts and follow-up care and support services. Description: FHI supported scale-up of VCT started with 4 sites in 2000, added 12 sites in 2001, 3 sites in 2002 and 3 sites in 2003. At the site level, FHI's support included training in counseling and laboratory testing, introduction of rapid tests for the first time in Rwanda and introduction of an anonymous record-keeping system. FHI assisted the MOH in developing national VCT guidelines, testing algorithms, counselor training curriculum and a counselor reference manual. By October 2003, 205,559 clients were provided with pre-test counseling. Of these, 99.8% (205,127) accepted to go on for testing. 98% of those tested received their results and 11.6% were HIV+. The male/female ratio of clients was 50.5/49.5. Average client age was 26. 23.2% of clients were married, 67% single, 3.8% divorced and 6% widowed. The main reasons for seeking VCT were to find out sero-status (36%), pre-marital testing (30%), and risky sexual contact (24%). Lessons learned: Use of VCT has not required extensive promotion or links to follow-up care. Only 30% of clients attend VCT with their partner, indicating a need to promote couples VCT. Integration of VCT into public facilities poses challenges due to staff transfers. Barriers to condom promotion/use that exist in general in Rwanda are also prevalent at VCT sites among counselors. Standardized training and reference materials for VCT help to ensure standardized quality at sites. Recommendations: Studies are needed to understand spontaneous demand for VCT and ways to overcome barriers to condom promotion. More care must be added around VCT to provide follow-up services for HIV+ clients.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Condoms
• Counseling
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Education
• Humans
• Learning
• Male
• Rwanda
• education

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0040480

UI: 102284696

From Meeting Abstracts