Quality of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Services in Medical Colleges of Kerala - Perspectives of HIV Positive People: A Qualitative Study
Abstract
Introduction: HIV counseling – and - testing services (VCT) are a major component of HIV and AIDS control programs in the industrialized as well as in the developing world. The scope and challenges of VCT has changed a lot over the past decade from the time and is now acknowledged within the international arena as an effective and pivotal strategy for both HIV/AIDS prevention and care. But the quality and benefits of VCT, in particular with regard to confidentiality, counseling and access to clinical and social support vary enormously as pointed by many researchers
Objectives: To understand the HIV positive peoples’ perspectives of quality of voluntary counseling and testing service in the medical colleges of Kerala, and the factors that influences client satisfaction
Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional Descriptive study was done during June to August 2007 in Drop-in-centers in three districts in Kerala, and the VCTCs at three medical colleges.
Results: Only five percent of the clients in the survey came voluntarily to VCTC. Clients rated confidentiality and attitude of counselors as high while there were some issues with regards to accessibility and timeliness. The content of the counseling was poor as per standards set by the national program
Conclusion: Counselors need more on-the-job training and job-aids to support their work. The centres need to be renamed considering the fact that mostly the counseling is not voluntary as it is claimed
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