Factors influencing couples' HIV counselling and testing uptake in Kisumu city, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to establish factors influencing Couples' HIV Counseling and Testing service Uptake in Kisumu city, Kenya which if addressed amicably, would increase service uptake in the fight against HIV / AIDS. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is frequently transmitted in the context of partners in a committed relationship, thus couples focused HIV prevention interventions are a potentially promising modality for reducing infection. Heterosexual couples represent the largest risk group for HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, with greater than 60% of new infections being acquired from a spouse. Although there have been ongoing efforts to scale up uptake of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), coverage and usage still remains low among couples. Current statistics indicate that HIV incidence in sub-Saharan Africa is fueled by HIV discordance among stable heterosexual relationships. Uptake of couple HIV counseling and testing (CHCT) is the way to go for the fight against HIV/AIDS to be way. Few people however go for the service as couples. The study was guided by the following objectives: to identify personal factors influencing CHCT uptake; to establish whether service factors influence CHCT uptake; to examine community factors influencing CHCT uptake; and to determine whether logistical support factors influence CHCT uptake. The information, motivation and behavioral skills (1MB) model by Fisher and Fisher (1992) was used to organize the variables tested by the researcher. The setting of the study was Kisumu city, Nyanza province in Kenya. A descriptive survey design was adopted and assisted questionnaires were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data to answer the research questions. All consenting couples who walked into selected VCT centers in the city for counseling and testing were eligible for participation in the study. Two VCT sites were selected for data collection for a period of three weeks. 374 participants (187 couples) were sampled purposively and participated in the study.