2.4. PROCUREMENT OF MATERIALS FOR VCT
The important step in procurement of VCT materials is deciding
how much of each commodity to buy. Commodities needed for youth friendly VCT
services may include-- HIV test kits, -Automated analyzers, such as
enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) readers, -Centrifuges, -Refrigerators,
TV/video equipment and health education videos, - Information leaflets, -
Contraceptives, - Drugs for palliative and supportive care, such as pain
management, - Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for treatment and prevention of
mother-to-child transmission, - Drugs to prevent and/or treat Opportunists
Infections (OI), such as tuberculosis (TB) prophylaxis, - etc All these
should be provided in a VCT /PCT site10.
2.5. FACTORS INFLUENCING WILLINGNESS TO UNDERGO HIV
PCT
Studies have shown that willingness to have premarital HIV
counselling and testing is positively associated with increased age, urban
residence, and wish to keep one's own HIV testing result confidential. However,
knowledge of a person with HIV/AIDS, HIV testing location, and other sexually
transmitted infections/diseases, as well as belief that abstinence protects
against HIV are inversely related to desire to take an HIV
test.45
2.6. REASONS FOR UNDERGOING HIV VCT
The main reasons clients seek VCT include unprotected
sexual intercourse, wanting to get intimate, premarital,
believing that they are already infected, STI
infections, pre-university or employment.10
2.7. BARRIERS TO HIV VCT/PCT
Some barriers to HIV VCT/PCT have been recognized
worldwide10. These are:- Availability and acceptability of VCT
services, including legal issues ,- Waiting time ,- Costs and pressure by
health staff to notify partners, - Worries about confidentiality and fear that
results would be shared with parent(s) or partner(s) without their consent , -
Lack of perceived risk and lack of perceived benefits in knowing HIV status, -
Lack of information about VCT services/shortage of VCT centres. -Fear of being
labelled and stigmatized by their families, friends and communities
- Perceptions of the consequences of living with HIV, -
Inadequate responses from health care providers, including counsellors, to
effectively meet the HIV prevention, care and support needs of youth - etc
2.8. MARRIAGE BETWEEN HIV DISCORDANT OR HIV
SEROPOSITIVE
COUPLES
The third International Consultation on HIV/AIDS and Human
Rights recognized rights of PLWA, including marriage.70,71,72
However because of stigmatisation and discrimination, people tend to
exclude PLWA to their right to marry. Some groups (including evangelical church
groups) demand to cite test results as grounds to deny a marriage ceremony
(where results are discordant or positive). Test result certification is not
provided by most VCT sites because of the potential misuse or negative
consequences, including stigma, discrimination and false hopes of
«safety»10. Also, despite the proved `Assisted
Reproduction in HIV infected individuals` many people are reluctant to marriage
between discordant and HIV seropositive couples.73
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