Factors associated with utilization of voluntary counseling and testing for HIV-sero status among soldiers in national service

Abstract

Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a HIV I AIDS prevention method which has been found to be one of the cost effective methods and a powerful tool to induce behaviour change, and reduce the HIV infection. However, the VCT service has not effectively been utilized in the National Service. The main objective of this study was to identify obstacles which contributes to the low usage of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) service among the soldiers in National Service. Cross-sectional survey was conducted in National Service camps during June - July 2004 to explore factors associated with utilization of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV-sero status among the soldiers in National Services. A total of 240 soldiers of different ranks were interviewed. Results of this study indicate that 89.2% of, the respondent were aware of HIV/AIDS transmission. Separation of soldiers from their families was cited by 75.8% as contributing to HIV infection among the soldiers. However, only 65.0% of the respondents were aware of the package of the VCT services. Lack of confidentiality contribute to low utilization of VCR service run by the National Service by 33.8% leading to preference of VCT service offered elsewhere.

VII Stigma accompanied by discrimination for the HIV positive soldiers make them shy away from using VeT services. This problem was cited by 16.3% of the respondents interviewed. These results show that something has to be done to improve the utilization of VeT services The actions needed include: Promotion of HIV/AIDS education in the army to address the problem of stigma; discrimination; create conducive environment: preferential treatment of HIV positive soldiers; and their families and ensure quality assurance of VeT services.