Who comes for HIV counselling?

ABSTRACT

The objectives was to study the characteristics of clients who requested their HIV results in a rural Ugandan community. In 1990 a counselling service was introduced to a rural area of SW Uganda with a population of approxinmately 10;000 people as part of epidemiological project to study the dynamics of HIV-1 infection. The characteristics of those requesting their sero-status are compared with the general population. The results showed that the proportion of adult population requesting results from the 15 study villages averaged 7(range 2to 14). Of adults requesting results; 17tested HIV positive compared to 8in the general population. During the first three years; there was little change in the number requesting their serostatus (average of 91 per year). However this increased to 119 in 1994. The proportion of clients aged 13 - 24 years increased from 32in 1990 to 54in 1994. The total numbers of males and females were equal; but among the 13 - 24 yr age-group; 65were females. The proportion of adult population requesting their HIV-1 test results is small; although it has increaed recently due to expansion of the counselling services. Young adults; particularly females; and HIV-1 seropositives are most likely to ask for their results: