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Background HIV/AIDS remains a significant global public health challenge with youth bearing the brunt of the burden. One essential method for preventing and accessing AIDS care is through Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). Regardless of this, youth population continues to have low utilization of VCT services. Objective To assess the uptake of HIV VCT services and associated factors among university students in Kigali. Methods A cross-sectional study among 374 students recruited using stratified sampling was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent factors associated with VCT uptake. Results The prevalence of VCT uptake was 59.9%. The logistic regression revealed that being Catholic (AOR = 11.99, 95%CI: 5.44-26.41) and Moslem (AOR = 37.34, 95%CI: 2.67-128.36) compared to Protestant, as well as availability of VCT services (AOR = 5.15, 95%CI: 3.11 - 8.541) favored the use VCT. On the other hand, being aged 20 to 24 years (AOR = 0.112, 95%CI: 0.04 - 0.29) had low likelihood of using VCT than those more than 24 years of age. Conclusion VCT uptake was significantly positively associated with religion and VCT services availability, and negatively associated with age 20-24 years in the campus. Therefore, targeted actions of disseminating information on benefits of VCT and enhancing accessibility of VCT services among students are necessary for the increased VCT uptake to be attained.
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HIV Infections , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , HIV Seropositivity , Counseling , HIV TestingABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the characteristics and prevalence of HIV infection among AIDS volunteer counseling and testing ( VCT ) clients in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City from 2016 to 2019, so as to provide insights into local AIDS control.@*Methods@#The demographic features, reasons for counseling and detection of anti-HIV antibody were captured from the VCT clinic of Shangcheng Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2016 to 2019, and the reasons for counseling and prevalence of HIV infections were analyzed.@*Results@#A total of 2 205 clients were included, among whom 1 920 participants ( 87.07% ) were male, 1 094 ( 49.61% ) were at ages of < 30 years, 1 293 ( 58.64% ) were single, and 1 165 ( 52.83% ) had an education level of diploma and above. The common reasons for counseling included a history of homosexual behaviors with men (887 clients, 40.23%), non-commercial irregular heterosexual behaviors ( 661 clients, 29.98% ), commercial heterosexual behaviors ( 308 clients, 13.97% ), HIV-positive spouse/regular sex partners ( 123 clients, 5.58% ), and no high-risk behaviors ( 47 clients, 2.13% ). The positive rate of anti-HIV antibody was 2.95% among the 2 205 clients, and a high positive rate was observed among clients at ages of 50 years and below ( 6.15% ), single clients ( 3.71% ), clients with an education level of primary school and below ( 6.04% ) and clients with HIV-positive spouse/regular sex partners ( 11.38% ).@*Conclusions@#Single men at ages of less than 30 years and with a high education level are predominant among VCT clients in Shangcheng District, and a history of homosexual behaviors with men is the predominant reason for counseling. There is a relative low prevalence rate of HIV infection among VCT clients in Shangcheng District; however, a high prevalence rate is found among single visitors at ages of 50 years and older, with an education level of primary school and below and HIV-positive spouse/regular sex partners.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>We aimed to elucidate the rates of repeat HIV testing and incident HIV diagnosis, and baseline CD4+ T cell count among individuals attending HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinics in Wuxi, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A repeat HIV testing within 12 months was recorded if individuals had their first test with negative results, during 2013-2014 and retested within 12 months. An incident HIV diagnosis was recorded if individuals had their first test with negative results, during 2013-2015 and had a subsequent positive result at any point by the end of 2015. Data on HIV testing and diagnosis among individuals attending 32 VCT clinics from 2013 to 2015 and HIV diagnosis from other clinical services in Wuxi, China, were retrieved. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze factors associated with repeat HIV testing. Cox regression was used to evaluate factors associated with incident HIV diagnosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From 2013 to 2014, 11,504 individuals tested HIV negative at their first recorded test, with 655 (5.7%) retesting within 12 months. Higher repeat HIV testing within 12 months was associated with male gender [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-2.2], risk behaviors [commercial heterosexual behaviors (aOR = 1.4, CI: 1.1-1.6), male-male sexual behaviors (aOR = 3.7, CI: 2.7-4.9)], injection drug use (aOR = 9.9, CI: 6.5-15.1), and having taken HIV tests previously (aOR = 2.0, CI: 1.6-2.4). From 2013 to 2015, 1,088 individuals tested negative on HIV test at their visit and at ⋝ 2 subsequent tests; of them 30 had incident HIV diagnosis. The overall rate of incident HIV diagnosis among all VCT individuals was 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1-2.1) per 100 person-years. Incident HIV diagnosis was associated with male gender [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 8.5, 95% CI: 1.9-38.1], attending hospital-based VCT clinics (aHR = 7.8, 95% CI: 1.1-58.3), and male-male sexual behavior (aHR = 8.4, 95% CI: 1.5-46.7). Individuals diagnosed at VCT clinics had higher CD4+ T cell count compared with those diagnosed at other clinical services (median 407 vs. 326 copies/mm3, P = 0.003).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>VCT individuals in Wuxi, China, had a low repeat HIV testing rate and high HIV incidence. VCT-clinic-based interventions aimed at increasing repeat HIV testing are needed to detect more cases at an earlier stage, especially among individuals at high risk for HIV infection such as men who have sex with men.</p>
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INTRODUCTION : In 2011, the Brazilian Ministry of Health rolled out a program for the external quality assessment of rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests using the dried tube specimen (DTS) method (EQA-RT/DTS-HIV). Our objective was to evaluate the implementation of this program at 71 voluntary counseling and testing centers (VCTCs) in the Brazilian Legal Amazonian area one year after its introduction. METHODS : Quantitative and qualitative study that analyzed secondary data and interviews with healthcare workers (HCWs) (n=39) and VCTC coordinators (n=32) were performed. The assessment used 18 key indicators to evaluate the three dimensions of the program's logical framework: structure, process, and result. Each indicator was scored from 1-4, and the aggregate results corresponding to the dimensions were expressed as proportions. The results were compared to the perceptions of the HCWs and coordinators regarding the EQA-RT/DTS-HIV program. RESULTS: The aggregate scores for the three dimensions of structure, process, and result were 91.7%, 78.6%, and 95%, respectively. The lowest score in each dimension corresponded to a different indicator: access to Quali-TR online system 39% (structure), registration in Quali-TR online system 38.7% (process), and VCTC completed the full process in the program's first round 63.4% (result). Approximately 36% of the HCWs and 52% of the coordinators reported enhanced trust in the program for its rapid HIV testing performance. CONCLUSIONS: All three program dimensions exhibited satisfactory results (>75%). Nevertheless, the study findings highlight the need to improve certain program components. Additionally, long-term follow-ups is needed to provide a more thorough picture of the process for external quality assessment. .
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Humans , Dried Blood Spot Testing/standards , HIV Infections/diagnosis , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Brazil , Counseling , Dried Blood Spot Testing/methodsABSTRACT
Objective To understand the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection status and syphilis prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) receiving voluntary counseling and testing appointed through a web-based registering system and related factors.Methods The MSM receiving web appointed HIV counseling and testing from 2011 to 2012 in Guangzhou were recruited and a questionnaire survey was conduct among them to obtain the information about their demographic characteristics and sexual behavior.Binary and multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify the factors associated with HIV infection or syphilis prevalence.Results A total of 4 904 MSM were enrolled in the study,the average age of the MSM was (28.77 ± 7.24) years,and 70.3％ of them had high education level;the unmarried MSM accounted for 72.7％.The HIV infection rate and syphilis prevalence were 8.7％ and 4.4％ respectively.The co-infection rate of HIV and Treponema pallidum was 1.2％ (59/4 904).About one in three MSM did not use condom at latest homosexual behavior,43.5％ did not use condoms at each homosexual behavior in the past three months.Lower education level,occupation (worker or farmer),non-consistent condom use at each sex with men in the past three months,receiving HIV test or not and Treponema pallidum infection were associated with HIV infection.Age ≥40 years,lower education level,multi male sex partners in the past three months and HIV infection were associated with Treponema pallidum infection.Conclusion MSM receiving web appointed HIV counseling and testing had high prevalence of risk behaviors and high HIV infection rate,but had low previous HIV testing rate.It is necessary to strengthen the promotion of HIV test through web based appointment and conduct target behavior intervention in older MSM with lower education level.
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Objective To analyze the situation of inquirer in Shanghai Jing'an district AIDS voluntary coun-seling and testing(VCT). Methods Inquirer were serviced by trained counselors before and after HIV antibody tes-ring,each inquirer were asked to complete a "Advisory Cases Registration Form". Results Inquirer were male-domi-nated,accounting for 85.7%. And inquirer's age were mainly 25 ～ 34 years old, which accounting for 55.8%. The types of inquirer were mainly because of male non-married heterosexual sexual contact, female non-married heterosex-ual contact, male homosexual sexual sexual contact, which accounted for 77.4%, 11.8% and 3.7%, respectively. For the total of three categories accounted for 92.9%. Inquirer aged 25 ～ 34 years old in 2007 were more than 2006 ,and inquirer because of male non-married heterosexual sexual contact in 2007 were more than 2006. There were 2 infectors because of male homosexual sexual contact in 3 positive infectors who were screened in 2007. Conclusion VCT played more and more important role in AIDS prevention and control, and it should be further strengthened and ex-panded.
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Objective To investigate and analyze structure of risk perceived by people using HIV voluntary counseling and testing services and related factors.Method Two hundred and sixty eight VCT users were selected from 2 CDCs and 2 hospitals in Beijing and their perceived risks in the process of VCT were assessed by using self-administered question- naires.Factor analysis was performed to understand the relationship between different perceived risks,and risks perceived by different users were evaluated.Results Six factors were obtained from the factor analysis which included:fear of priva- cy disclosure,embarrassment,concern over the reliability of HIV tests,cost & time consumption,the tragic outcomes of HIV positive tests,and potential medical expenditures in the future.And the risks perceived by low and high income users were much higher than those perceived by middle income users.Conclusion There are clear structure of risks perceived by people using HIV voluntary counseling and testing,and people with different incomes have different levels of perceived risks.
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Objective To understand the knowledge,attitudes and impact factors related to voluntary counseling and testing(VCT)for HIV/AIDS among migrants in Minhang district of Shanghai.Method Using a convenience sampling strategy,74 migrants,27 key informants and 20 community service providers were selected to participate in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.Results Most migrants were young,less educated and poorly aware of HIV prevention.Only one third of the migrants heard of VCT,but few of them knew where to seek VCT or had any personal VCT experience.Nearly half of the interviewees took a negative attitude towards those who participated in VCT service.The main factors influencing the participation in VCT service among the migrants were the knowledge of VCT,having risk behavior and perception,supportive environments and availability of HIV/VCT services.Conclusions There is an urgent need to promote extensive health education about HIV/VCT,adopt flexible and available approaches to VCT service and provide appropriate care following the HIV test among migrants.
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Objective:To longitudinally analyze the unit costs and technical efficiency of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) voluntary counseling and testing in China.Methods:Unit costs were calcula-ted by the province and period using longitudinal data from 7 provinces covered by Global Fund China AIDS Program Round 3,and then technical efficiency and Malmquist indices were measured with an approach to data envelopment analysis.Results:The unit costs for HIV voluntary counseling and testing changed dramatically over a 3+-year period,decreasing from $165.97(mean) to $53.41,with an accumulative unit cost of $67.19,and its technical efficiency was averaging between 0.44 and 0.63.Conclusion:The time series of unit costs for HIV voluntary counseling and testing formed a U-shape curve with an inflection point before which unit costs dramatically dropped and another inflection point beyond which unit costs went up.These findings can inform program managers of the changing unit costs when extending or expanding HIV prevention efforts.