HIV This Week

Bwambale FM, Ssali SN, Byaruhanga S, Kalyango JN, Karamagi CA. Voluntary HIV counselling and testing among men in rural western Uganda: Implications for HIV prevention. BMC Public Health. 2008 Jul 30;8:263.

Voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) is one of the key strategies in the prevention and control of HIV in Uganda. However, the utilization of VCT services particularly among men is low in Kasese district. Bwambale et al conducted a study to determine the prevalence and factors associated with VCT use among men in Bukonzo West health sub-district, Kasese district. A population-based cross-sectional study employing both quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection was conducted between January and April 2005. Using cluster sampling, 780 men aged 18 years and above, residing in Bukonzo West health sub-district, were sampled from 38 randomly selected clusters. Data was collected on VCT use and independent variables. Focus group discussions (4) and key informant interviews (10) were also conducted. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine the predictors of VCT use among men. Overall VCT use among men was 23.3% (95% CI 17.2-29.4). Forty six percent (95% CI 40.8-51.2) had pre-test counselling and 25.9% (95%CI 19.9-31.9) had HIV testing. Of those who tested, 96% returned for post-test counselling and received HIV results. VCT use was higher among men aged 35 years and below (OR = 2.69, 95%CI 1.77-4.07), non-subsistence farmers (OR = 2.37, 95%CI 2.37), in couple testing (OR = 2.37, 95%CI 1.02-8.83) and among men with intention to disclose HIV test results to sexual partners (OR = 1.64, 95%CI 1.04-2.60). The major barriers to VCT use among men were poor utilization of VCT services due to poor access, stigma and confidentiality of services. VCT use among men in Bukonzo West, Kasese district was low. In order to increase VCT use among men, the VCT programme needs to address HIV stigma and improve access and confidentiality of VCT services. Among the more promising interventions are the use of routine counselling and testing for HIV of patients seeking health care in health units, home based VCT programmes, and mainstreaming of HIV counselling and testing services in community development programmes.

Editors’ note: Kasese District in western Uganda had an HIV prevalence of 13.3% in 2005 at the time of this study and yet only 23.3% of the 780 men in this representative study population had ever had an HIV test and learned their results. Over half (61.8%) of the men believed that a couple could not have discordant HIV results. A combination of provider-initiated testing and counselling in health services, home-based offers of testing, and integration of testing services into community development programmes could remove many of the barriers to HIV testing raised by the participants of this study.