Knowledge and Perceptions of Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Urban Rwanda and Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey

April L. Kelley; Etienne Karita; Patrick S. Sullivan; Francois Katanguila; Elwyn Chomba; Michel Carael; Joseph Telfair; Steve M. Dunham; Cheswa M. Vxalika; Michele G. Kautzman; Kristin M. Wall; Susan A. Allen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019573

Knowledge and Perceptions of Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Urban Rwanda and Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey

April L. Kelley, Etienne Karita, Patrick S. Sullivan, Francois Katanguila, Elwyn Chomba, Michel Carael, Joseph Telfair, Steve M. Dunham, Cheswa M. Vxalika, Michele G. Kautzman, Kristin M. Wall, Susan A. Allen

Health Policy & Community Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

<div class="line" id="line-5"> <b> Background: </b> Most incident HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa occur between cohabiting, discordant, heterosexual couples. Though couples' voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) is an effective, well-studied intervention in Africa, <1% of couples have been jointly tested.</div><div class="line" id="line-8"> <br/></div><div class="line" id="line-10"> <b> Methods: </b> We conducted cross-sectional household surveys in Kigali, Rwanda (n&hairsp;=&hairsp;600) and Lusaka, Zambia (n&hairsp;=&hairsp;603) to ascertain knowledge, perceptions, and barriers to use of CVCT.</div><div class="line" id="line-13"> <br/></div><div class="line" id="line-15"> <b> Results: </b> Compared to Lusaka, Kigali respondents were significantly more aware of HIV testing sites (79%  <i> vs. </i>  56%); had greater knowledge of HIV serodiscordance between couples (83%  <i> vs. </i> 43%); believed CVCT is good (96%  <i> vs. </i>  72%); and were willing to test jointly (91%  <i> vs. </i>  47%). Stigma, fear of partner reaction, and distance/cost/logistics were CVCT barriers.</div><div class="line" id="line-26"> <br/></div><div class="line" id="line-28"> <b> Conclusions: </b> Though most respondents had positive attitudes toward CVCT, the majority were unaware that serodiscordance between cohabiting couples is possible. Future messages should target gaps in knowledge about serodiscordance, provide logistical information about CVCT services, and aim to reduce stigma and fear.</div>

Original language	American English
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0019573
State	Published - Mar 2011

Keywords

Couples counseling
Household survey
Testing
Urban Rwanda
Voluntary
Zambia

DC Disciplines

Public Health
Medicine and Health Sciences

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Kelley, A. L., Karita, E., Sullivan, P. S., Katanguila, F., Chomba, E., Carael, M., Telfair, J., Dunham, S. M., Vxalika, C. M., Kautzman, M. G., Wall, K. M., & Allen, S. A. (2011). Knowledge and Perceptions of Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Urban Rwanda and Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey. PLoS ONE, 6. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0019573

@article{e06d7b5646c84129a956bd4d221cb257,

title = "Knowledge and Perceptions of Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Urban Rwanda and Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey",

abstract = " Background: Most incident HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa occur between cohabiting, discordant, heterosexual couples. Though couples' voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) is an effective, well-studied intervention in Africa, <1% of couples have been jointly tested. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional household surveys in Kigali, Rwanda (n&hairsp;=&hairsp;600) and Lusaka, Zambia (n&hairsp;=&hairsp;603) to ascertain knowledge, perceptions, and barriers to use of CVCT. Results: Compared to Lusaka, Kigali respondents were significantly more aware of HIV testing sites (79%  vs.  56%); had greater knowledge of HIV serodiscordance between couples (83%  vs. 43%); believed CVCT is good (96%  vs.  72%); and were willing to test jointly (91%  vs.  47%). Stigma, fear of partner reaction, and distance/cost/logistics were CVCT barriers. Conclusions: Though most respondents had positive attitudes toward CVCT, the majority were unaware that serodiscordance between cohabiting couples is possible. Future messages should target gaps in knowledge about serodiscordance, provide logistical information about CVCT services, and aim to reduce stigma and fear.",

keywords = "Couples counseling, Household survey, Testing, Urban Rwanda, Voluntary, Zambia",

author = "Kelley, {April L.} and Etienne Karita and Sullivan, {Patrick S.} and Francois Katanguila and Elwyn Chomba and Michel Carael and Joseph Telfair and Dunham, {Steve M.} and Vxalika, {Cheswa M.} and Kautzman, {Michele G.} and Wall, {Kristin M.} and Allen, {Susan A.}",

year = "2011",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0019573",

language = "American English",

volume = "6",

journal = "PLoS ONE",

issn = "1932-6203",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Knowledge and Perceptions of Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Urban Rwanda and Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey

AU - Kelley, April L.

AU - Karita, Etienne

AU - Sullivan, Patrick S.

AU - Katanguila, Francois

AU - Chomba, Elwyn

AU - Carael, Michel

AU - Telfair, Joseph

AU - Dunham, Steve M.

AU - Vxalika, Cheswa M.

AU - Kautzman, Michele G.

AU - Wall, Kristin M.

AU - Allen, Susan A.

PY - 2011/3

Y1 - 2011/3

N2 - Background: Most incident HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa occur between cohabiting, discordant, heterosexual couples. Though couples' voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) is an effective, well-studied intervention in Africa, <1% of couples have been jointly tested. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional household surveys in Kigali, Rwanda (n&hairsp;=&hairsp;600) and Lusaka, Zambia (n&hairsp;=&hairsp;603) to ascertain knowledge, perceptions, and barriers to use of CVCT. Results: Compared to Lusaka, Kigali respondents were significantly more aware of HIV testing sites (79%  vs.  56%); had greater knowledge of HIV serodiscordance between couples (83%  vs. 43%); believed CVCT is good (96%  vs.  72%); and were willing to test jointly (91%  vs.  47%). Stigma, fear of partner reaction, and distance/cost/logistics were CVCT barriers. Conclusions: Though most respondents had positive attitudes toward CVCT, the majority were unaware that serodiscordance between cohabiting couples is possible. Future messages should target gaps in knowledge about serodiscordance, provide logistical information about CVCT services, and aim to reduce stigma and fear.

AB - Background: Most incident HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa occur between cohabiting, discordant, heterosexual couples. Though couples' voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) is an effective, well-studied intervention in Africa, <1% of couples have been jointly tested. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional household surveys in Kigali, Rwanda (n&hairsp;=&hairsp;600) and Lusaka, Zambia (n&hairsp;=&hairsp;603) to ascertain knowledge, perceptions, and barriers to use of CVCT. Results: Compared to Lusaka, Kigali respondents were significantly more aware of HIV testing sites (79%  vs.  56%); had greater knowledge of HIV serodiscordance between couples (83%  vs. 43%); believed CVCT is good (96%  vs.  72%); and were willing to test jointly (91%  vs.  47%). Stigma, fear of partner reaction, and distance/cost/logistics were CVCT barriers. Conclusions: Though most respondents had positive attitudes toward CVCT, the majority were unaware that serodiscordance between cohabiting couples is possible. Future messages should target gaps in knowledge about serodiscordance, provide logistical information about CVCT services, and aim to reduce stigma and fear.

KW - Couples counseling

KW - Household survey

KW - Testing

KW - Urban Rwanda

KW - Voluntary

KW - Zambia

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0019573

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0019573

M3 - Article

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 6

JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

ER -

Knowledge and Perceptions of Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Urban Rwanda and Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey

Abstract

Keywords

DC Disciplines

UN SDGs

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