Survey of motivation for use of voluntary counseling and testing services for HIV in a high risk area of Shenyang, China

Abstract

BackgroundHIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is considered an effective prevention method of HIV infection. In order to understand the VCT environment and enhance the effective delivery of VCT services in a country, an accurate assessment of the current status of VCT services is very important.MethodsFrom July 2006 to June 2007, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a face to face interview among 2676 VCT clients from a high risk area in Shenyang city, China.ResultsThe major demographic characteristics among 2,676 VCT clients were: 41.1% were in the age range 20 to 30 years; 73.1% were males; and 67.1% had attained the level of junior high school education. The primary information source for VCT services was mass media like television (TV) and newspaper in 88.9%. 34.3% were afraid of the result of infection which was the main barrier to accept VCT services among 540 participants answering the question. 75.2% were motivated by recently acquired knowledge about HIV. 47.9% had 3 or more male sex partners, 62.3% had used condoms sometimes, and 14.5% had been infected with a STD. 2.8% of the participants identified themselves as men who have sex with men (MSM). The main demographic characteristics of MSM did not differ from the total group of participants except with respect to age: 63.5% reported having one male sex partner in the preceding 12 months, 44.6% reported never using condoms in the preceding 12 months, and only 2.7% reported a history of sexually transmitted disease.ConclusionPublic education offered by health workers in hospitals, private clinics and other medical institutions needs to be strengthened. Given the results from this study, we recommend: (1) making VCT a routine part of health services, especially in areas where many high-risk individuals live; (2) improving the information sources and increasing the understanding of HIV and HIV-infected individuals; (3) enhancing international collaboration in strategic planning, technical assistance, and protocols to translate policy into effective action; (4) supporting Chinese non-government organizations (NGOs) in playing a significant role in the battle against AIDS.

HIV Testing Behaviors Among Female Sex Workers in Southwest China

“…Despite the fact that VCT has been offered free for almost 10 years in Guangxi, about half (46%) of FSW didn't know where to get tested, and 21% thought the cost of testing was too high. Such findings were consistent with previous studies on VCT participation and evaluation [21,32,33]. Similar to observations in other populations and cultures, low-perceived risks, stigma associated with AIDS and people living with HIV/ AIDS are major barriers to testing.…”

Understanding the behavioral and social characteristics of VCT clients in a Shanghai hospital, China

“…Conversely, it is also plausible that older participants were less willing to accept VCT for fear of stigma or unfamiliar practices than were the younger people. However, 45.4% of unmarried individual sought VCT in the present study, which was a much higher level than in other research performed in China, but comparable to studies in other countries (Jereni & Muula, 2008;Zhou, Guo, Fan, Tian, & Zhou, 2009). This may have been because of a more open attitude toward sex in Shanghai than in other provinces in China.…”

“…Most participants (67.4%) in the present study had attained college-level education. This was much higher than that in other studies, in which a majority achieved only junior high school level (Jereni & Muula, 2008;Morin et al, 2006;Zhou et al, 2009). Since Shanghai is the economic center of mainland China, people living or working there may have received a higher level education, which could explain this difference.…”

“…Researches from Jereni and Muula (2008) and Zhou et al (2009) have shown that the primary reason for seeking VCT was recent knowledge about HIV, and self-assessment of behavior as risky only accounted for a small proportion. However, most individuals in our study did have the possibility to be infected, which suggests that they may be more knowledgeable about the route of HIV transmission than participants in other studies.…”

Factors Associated With HIV Testing History and HIV-Test Result Follow-up Among Female Sex Workers in Two Cities in Yunnan, China

“…Some FSWs may underestimate their risk and thus may have chosen to forgo past HIV-testing opportunities. 9,18,21,23,26,28,29 Intervention and education programs need to help raise HIV awareness, 18 and the general public should be educated to understand that HIV infections are often asymptomatic. 10 Helping FSWs to more accurately assess their risk-behaviors, could help increase HIV test utilization.…”