Challenges of expansion of voluntary counselling and testing in India

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suniti Solomon ◽  
Kartik K. Venkatesh ◽  
A. K. Srikrishnan ◽  
Kenneth H. Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Voluntary Counselling ◽  
Integral Element ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Voluntary Counselling And Testing

Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) has been recognised as an integral element of any effective HIV public health primary prevention and care program. In India, it is currently estimated that 2.0–3.1 million individuals are living with HIV. As low-cost antiretroviral therapy has increasingly become available in India, VCT could be an important link connecting individuals to treatment and care. Major barriers remain for scaling-up of VCT services, including location of VCT centres, HIV-associated stigma, and lack of perception of HIV risk. Future national expansions of VCT services must engage the Indian private sector, which is likely to remain the largest provider of healthcare for the foreseeable future, through scaling-up personnel in these facilities to provide accurate testing and culturally-relevant counselling.

scholarly journals Pain in clients attending a South African voluntary counselling and testing centre was frequent and extensive but did not depend on HIV status

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia L Wadley ◽  
Erica Lazarus ◽  
Glenda E Gray ◽  
Duncan Mitchell ◽  
Peter R Kamerman
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Voluntary Counselling ◽  
Hopkins Symptom Checklist ◽  
Voluntary Testing ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Voluntary Counselling And Testing

AbstractBackgroundThe frequency of pain is reported to be high in people living with HIV (PLWH), but valid comparisons between PLWH and HIV-negative cohorts are rare. We investigated whether HIV infection influenced frequency and characteristics of pain in adults undergoing voluntary testing for HIV.MethodsParticipants were recruited from a HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centre at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Soweto, South Africa. Pain was assessed using the Wisconsin Brief Pain Questionnaire. Depressive and anxiety symptomatology was determined using the Hopkins Symptom checklist-25. We then stratified by HIV status.ResultsData from 535 black South Africans were analysed: HIV-infected n=70, HIV uninfected n=465. Overall, frequency of pain was high with 59% (95%CI: 55; 63, n: 316/535) of participants reporting pain, with no difference related to HIV status: HIV-infected 50% (95% CI: 37; 61, n: 35/70), HIV-uninfected 60% (95%CI: 56; 65, n: 281/465). Pain intensity and number of pain sites were similar between the groups as were symptoms of anxiety and depression: mean HSCL-25 1.72 (95% CI 1.57; 1.87) HIV-infected participants and 1.68 (95% CI: 1.63; 1.73) HIV-uninfected participants. Univariate analysis showed female sex and greater depressive and anxiety symptomatology associated with having pain. In a conservative multivariable model, only depressive and anxiety symptomatology was retained in the model.ConclusionThe high frequency of pain found in both HIV infected and uninfected individuals presenting at a VCT centre was more likely to be associated with depression and anxiety, than with the presence or absence of HIV.

scholarly journals VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING (VCT) SERVICES ON HIV/AIDS IN PRIVATE HOSPITAL OF YOGYAKARTA

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Suci Musvita Ayu ◽  
Desy Riski Andriyanti
Keyword(s):  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Voluntary Counselling ◽  
Counseling And Testing ◽  
Background Data ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Voluntary Counselling And Testing ◽  
Gain Access ◽  
Hiv Aids

Background: Data Yogyakarta AIDS Commission in 2016 stated the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS was 4,648 cases consisting of 3,334 HIV cases and 1,314 AIDS cases. Based on the data of PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital, Yogyakarta, in October 2016 to October 2017, there were 35 patients with HIV / AIDS. Regulations carried out for any action in the hospital must be following standard operating procedures (SOP), including program counseling and testing of HIV/AIDS or Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). This program is the gateway for the community to gain access to all HIV/AIDS services. This study aimed to explore the implementation of VCT services on HIV/AIDS at PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital in Yogyakarta.Methods: Descriptive qualitative using an observational approach was used in this study to describe the implementation of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) on HIV/AIDS.  As many as ten informants were interviewed, namely: 1 head of VCT services in PKU Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, 3 VCT counselors, 1 laboratory staff and 5 clients. They were selected using purposive sampling refers to inclusion criteria.  Results: Implementation of pre-test counseling, testing, and post-test had been good. Improper service was identified in the number of counselors and waiting time for the VCT test results.Conclusions: Implementation of VCT at PKU Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta is running well and follow the SOPs. 

scholarly journals GAMBARAN KEINGINAN KELOMPOK LELAKI SEKS LELAKI DALAM MEMANFAATKAN KLINIK VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING DI PUSKESMAS CIPUTAT

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56
Author(s):  
Kamila Rahmadiah ◽  
Fajar Ariyanti
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Health Center ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Public Health Center ◽  
Purposive Sampling ◽  
Voluntary Counselling ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Voluntary Counselling And Testing ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Background: Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) is a high-risk group of people getting infected with HIV/AIDS due to their multiple sexual partner behaviour and their anal intercourse practices. The MSM group is the highest risk factor for HIV new cases in Indonesia. The VCT (Voluntary Counselling and Testing) clinic is the main entrance to HIV/AIDS prevention, maintenance, support, and treatment services. However, the MSM group that utilizes VCT clinic in Ciputat subdistrict decreased from the previous year. Objective: The purpose of this research was to thorouglhly identify about the overview of the intention of men who have sex with men groups in utilizing voluntary counselling and testing clinic in Ciputat public health center. Method: This research was a descriptive qualitative research using the case study method, which was conducted in February-November 2019 in the working area of ​​the Ciputat public health center. The main informants were homosexual or bisexual groups, who were selected by purposive sampling. Data validation used source triangulation, and data were analyzed by content analysis. Result: The results showed that most of the informant had no intention to utilize the VCT clinic in Ciputat public health center, low knowledge of HIV/AIDS and VCT clinic, low susceptibility of perception and self-efficacy. All informants had barriers, high perception of severity, perception of good benefit, and quite large cues to act. Conclusion: The majority of informants had no intention to utilize the VCT clinic due to low knowledge of HIV/AIDS and VCT clinic. Public health center and NGOs are recommended to collaborate in increasing knowledge of community on HIV/AIDS and VCT clinic. Keywords: men who have sex with men, VCT clinic, HIV/AIDS Abstrak Latar belakang: Lelaki Seks Lelaki (LSL) merupakan kelompok berisiko tinggi tertular HIV/AIDS dikarenakan kecenderungannya berganti pasangan dan melakukan seks anal. Kelompok LSL merupakan faktor risiko tertinggi kasus baru HIV di Indonesia. Klinik VCT (Voluntary Counselling and Testing) merupakan pintu masuk utama pada layanan pencegahan, perawatan, dukungan, dan pengobatan HIV/AIDS. Namun LSL yang memanfaatkan klinik VCT di Kecamatan Ciputat mengalami penurunan dari tahun sebelumnya. Tujuan: Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui secara mendalam mengenai gambaran keinginan kelompok LSL dalam memanfaatkan klinik VCT di Puskesmas Ciputat. Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualititatif deskriptif dengan metode studi kasus, yang dilaksanakan pada Februari-November 2019 di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Ciputat. Informan utama adalah kelompok homoseksual maupun biseksual yang dipilih dengan cara purposive sampling. Validasi data menggunakan triangulasi sumber dan analisa data dilakukan dengan content analysis. Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan sebagian besar informan belum memiliki keinginan untuk memanfaatkan klinik VCT di Puskesmas Ciputat, berpengetahuan kurang mengenai HIV/AIDS maupun klinik VCT, serta memiliki persepsi kerentanan dan efikasi diri yang rendah. Semua informan memiliki hambatan, persepsi keparahan yang tinggi, persepsi manfaat yang baik, serta isyarat untuk bertindak cukup besar. Kesimpulan: Sebagian besar LSL belum memiliki keinginan untuk memanfaatkan klinik VCT. Hal ini karena  informan memiliki pengetahuan yang kurang terkait HIV/AIDS maupun klinik VCT. Puskesmas dan LSM diharapkan dapat bekerja sama untuk dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan masyarakat mengenai HIV/AIDS dan klinik VCT. Kata kunci: lelaki seks lelaki, klinik VCT, HIV/AIDS

scholarly journals Higher seroprevalence of Entamoeba histolytica than that of HIV-1 at a voluntary counselling and testing centre in Tokyo

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuaki Yanagawa ◽  
Mami Nagashima ◽  
Hiroyuki Gatanaga ◽  
Yoshimi Kikuchi ◽  
Shinichi Oka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Entamoeba Histolytica ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Rapid Plasma Reagin ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Voluntary Counselling ◽  
Voluntary Counselling And Testing ◽  
Hiv 1

AbstractBackgroundAmebiasis, which is caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is a re-emerging public health issue owing to sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Japan. However, epidemiological data are quite limited.MethodologyTo reveal the relative prevalence of sexually transmitted E. histolytica infection to other STIs, we conducted a cross-sectional study at a voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centre in Tokyo. Seroprevalence of E. histolytica was assessed according to positivity with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for E. histolytica-specific IgG in serum samples collected from anonymous VCT clients.Principal FindingsAmong 2,083 samples, seropositivity for E. histolytica was 2.64%, which was higher than that for HIV-1 (0.34%, p < 0.001) and comparable to that for syphilis (rapid plasma reagin (RPR) 2.11%, p = 0.31). Positivity for Chlamydia trachomatis in urine by transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) was 4.59%. Seropositivity for E. histolytica was high among RPR-or Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA)-positive individuals and it was not different between clients with and without other STIs. Both seropositivity of E. histolytica and RPR were high among male clients. The seropositive rate for anti-E. histolytica antibody was positively correlated with age. TMA positivity for urine C. trachomatis was high among female clients and negatively correlated with age. Regression analysis identified that male sex, older age, and TPHA-positive results are independent risk factors of E. histolytica seropositivity.ConclusionsSeroprevalence of E. histolytica was 7.9 times higher than that of HIV-1 at a VCT centre in Tokyo, with a tendency to be higher among people at risk for syphilis infection.Author summaryAmebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica is an increasingly prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Japan; however, relative to other STIs, the prevalence of E. histolytica has not been fully assessed. We investigated the seropositivity of E. histolytica using serum samples from 2,083 clients of a voluntary counselling and testing centre in Tokyo. E. histolytica seroprevalence (2.64%) was 7.9 times higher than that of HIV-1 (0.31%) and the same as that of syphilis (rapid plasma reagin: 2.11%). Logistic regression analysis showed that E. histolytica seroprevalence tended to be higher among individuals who were male, older, and positive in Treponema pallidum hemagglutination. These results strongly suggest that public health interventions should be considered to control sexual transmission of E. histolytica infection, which is currently neglected in Japan.

India as a Pioneer of Innovation

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Public Health System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Innovation Project ◽  
Context Specific

What does innovation mean to and in India? What are the predominant areas of innovation for India, and under what situations do they succeed or fail? This book addresses these all-important questions arising within diverse Indian contexts: informal economy, low-cost settings, large business groups, entertainment and copyright-based industries, an evolving pharma sector, a poorly organized and appallingly underfunded public health system, social enterprises for the urban poor, and innovations for the millions. It explores the issues that promote and those that hinder the country’s rise as an innovation leader. The book’s balanced perspective on India’s promises and failings makes it a valuable addition for those who believe that India’s future banks heavily on its ability to leapfrog using innovation, as well as those sceptical of the Indian state’s belief in the potential of private enterprise and innovation. It also provides critical insights on innovation in general, the most important of which being the highly context-specific, context-driven character of the innovation project.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Optimism and Vaccine Willingness among an Online Sample of US Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Rob Stephenson ◽  
Stephen P. Sullivan ◽  
Renee A. Pitter ◽  
Alexis S. Hunter ◽  
Tanaka MD Chavanduka
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Binary Outcomes ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Black African ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Living With Hiv

This paper presents data from an online sample of U.S gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), to explore the factors associated with three dimensions of vaccine beliefs: perception of the likelihood of a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available, perception of when a COVID-19 vaccine would become available, and the likelihood of taking a COVID-19 vaccine. Data are taken from the Love and Sex in the Time of COVID-19 study, collected from November 2020 to January 2021. A sample of 290 GBMSM is analyzed, modeling three binary outcomes: belief that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine, belief that the COVID-19 vaccine will be available in 6 months, and being very likely to take the COVID-19 vaccine. In contrast to other studies, Black/African Americans and GBMSM living with HIV had higher levels of pandemic optimism and were more likely to be willing to accept a vaccine. Men who perceived a higher prevalence of COVID-19 among their friends and sex partners, and those who had reduced their sex partners, were more likely to be willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine. There remained a small percentage of participants (14%) who did not think the pandemic would end, that there would not be a vaccine and were unlikely to take a vaccine. To reach the levels of vaccination necessary to control the pandemic, it is imperative to understand the characteristics of those experiencing vaccine hesitancy and then tailor public health messages to their unique set of barriers and motivations.

scholarly journals Scaling up public health interventions: case study of the polio immunization program in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Utsamani Cintyamena ◽  
Luthfi Azizatunnisa’ ◽  
Riris Andono Ahmad ◽  
Yodi Mahendradhata
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Role Model ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Immunization Program ◽  
Integrated Health ◽  
Polio Immunization

Abstract Background The scaling up of public health interventions has received greater attention in recent years; however, there remains paucity of systematic investigations of the scaling up processes. We aim to investigate the overall process, actors and contexts of polio immunization scaling up in Indonesia from 1988 until 2018. Methods A mixed method study with sequential explanatory design was conducted. We carried out a quantitative survey of 323 actors involved in the polio program at national and sub-national levels, followed by Key Informant Interviews (KII)s. Document review was also carried out to construct a timeline of the polio eradication program with milestones. We carried out descriptive statistical analysis of quantitative data and thematic analysis of qualitative data. Results The scaling up of polio immunization in Indonesia started as a vertical expansion approach led by the Ministry of Health within a centralized health system. The coverage of immunization increased dramatically from 5% in the earlier 80s to 67.5% in 1987; incremental increases followed until achieving Universal Child Immunization (UCI) in 1990 and subsequently 95% coverage in 1995. Engagement of stakeholders and funding made the scaling up of polio immunization a priority. There was also substantial multisector involvement, including institutions and communities. Local area monitoring (LAM) and integrated health posts (Posyandu) were key to the polio immunization implementation strategy. Challenges for scaling up during this centralized period included cold chain infrastructure and limited experience in carrying out mass campaigns. Scaling up during the decentralized era was slower due to expansion in the number of provinces and districts. Moreover, there were challenges such as the negative perception of immunization side-effects, staff turnover, and the unsmooth transition of centralization towards decentralization. Conclusion Vertical scaling up of polio immunization program intervention was successful during the centralized era, with involvement of the president as a role model and the engine of multi sector actors. Posyandu (integrated health posts) played an important role, yet its revitalization after the reform-decentralization era has not been optimum.

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