7 research outputs found
Factors predicting uptake of voluntary counselling and testing in a realâlife setting in a motherâandâchild center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
SummaryObjectiveâ To identify factors predicting uptake of voluntary HIV counselling and testing in pregnant women.Methodsâ All pregnant women receiving anteânatal group health education at St Camille Medical Center, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 1 May 2002 to 30 April 2004 were offered voluntary HIV counselling and testing. If they consented, the women were preâtest counselled, tested by two rapid tests giving immediate results and postâtest counselled.Resultsâ Less than oneâfifth of pregnant women [1216/6639 (18.3%, CI 17.4â19.3%)] accepted voluntary HIV counselling and testing, mainly at the first anteânatal visit (83.4%) and at early gestational age (73.4% before week 24). The HIV seroprevalence rate was 10.6% (8.8â12.5%). The uptake rate was independently associated with age, the number of previous pregnancies and the number of previous miscarriages.Conclusionsâ Our twoâstep approach of group education followed by voluntary HIV counselling and testing yielded a low uptake rate in this setting. However, the dropâout rate after enrolling in the programme was nearly zero. The timing of programme uptake would permit implementation of earlier prophylactic courses. Effective scalingâup of voluntary HIV counselling and testing outside the clinical trial requires a mass sensibilization campaign pointing out the programme's benefits and addressing the stigma of HIV. The independent value of age and previous obstetrical episodes show how important social factors are in influencing the voluntary HIV counselling and testing uptake rate