Acceptability of HIV counselling and testing among tuberculosis patients in south Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundTo benefit from available care and treatment options, patients should first be counselled and tested for HIV. Our aim was to assess the acceptability of HIV testing among tuberculosis patients under routine care conditions in south Ethiopia.MethodsWe interviewed all adult tuberculosis patients who were treated at Arba Minch Hospital in Ethiopia between January and August 2005. After recording socio-demographic information and tuberculosis treatment history, we referred those patients who showed initial willingness to a counsellor for HIV counselling and testing. Rapid test methods were used following a pretest counselling session. The results were disclosed during a post-test counselling session. We used the logistic regression method to assess factors associated with willingness and acceptability.Results190 adult tuberculosis patients were treated at the hospital and all of them consented to take part in the study. Their median age was 30 years (range, 15–68) and 52% of them were males. 49 patients (26%) were previously tested including 29 (59%) HIV positive. Of 161 patients (excluding the 29 already positive), 118 (73%) were willing to be tested and 58% (68/118) of those willing accepted the test. The overall acceptability rate was 35% (56/161). Fourteen (20.6%) were HIV positive and women were more likely to be HIV infected (p = 0.029). Unemployment and self-perceived high risk of HIV infection were associated with initial willingness (OR [95%CI]:2.6 [1.3–5.5] vs. 5.0 [1.1–22.4], respectively). However, only being unemployed was associated with accepting the test (OR = 4.2; 95%CI = 1.9–9.3).ConclusionThe low acceptability of HIV counselling and testing among tuberculosis patients poses a challenge to the scale-up of TB/HIV collaborative efforts. There is a need for alternative counselling and testing strategies.

Acceptability of Provider Initiated HIV Counseling and Testing among Tuberculosis and Non-tuberculosis Patients in Shashemene Town, Ethiopia

“…This might be due the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection in this age group which could have made them susceptible to TB. The findings of this study (high prevalence of TB occurred in the young (<29) population) is similar to findings documented by several studies and the WHO (Jerene, Endale and Lindtjorn, 2007).…”

“…The number of population willing to accept PIHCT was the main outcome variable used to calculate the sample size and a study conducted in Arbaminch Town shows the prevalence of willingness to accept PIHCT was 35% among cases (Jerene, Endale and Lindtjorn, 2007) and 50% among controls were assumed to consider maximum sample size since there is no similar study done, with 5% marginal error and 95% confidence interval, and 80% power. Assuming 15% non-response rate, the minimum sample size was calculated to be 473 for both groups using the formula for difference between population proportions.…”

Evaluation of the roles of HIV co-infection and socio-demographic factors as determinants of Quality of Life among Nigerians with Tuberculosis

“…17 In contrary, the mean age in this study was found to be 36.49 years (±13.77), however was similar to other studies. (18)(19)(20)(21) Similar to this study, there is a higher male preponderance in the diseased state as reported in a study done among people with HIV/TB co-infection as well as those fielded in WHO global tuberculosis report.…”

From caution to urgency: the evolution of HIV testing and counselling in Africa

“…35,36 Although they provided evidence of the feasibility of PITC, these studies did not reflect patients' experiences of or views about PITC. Our review of the published literature suggests that PITC is generally acceptable to patients.…”