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Selected Works of Joseph Telfair
Article
Knowledge and Perceptions of Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Urban Rwanda and Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey
PLoS ONE (2011)
  • April L. Kelley, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group
  • Etienne Karita, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group
  • Patrick S. Sullivan, Emory University
  • Francois Katanguila, Social Scientific Systems, Inc
  • Elwyn Chomba, Emory University
  • Michel Carael, UNAIDS
  • Joseph Telfair, Georgia Southern University
  • Steve M. Dunham, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group
  • Cheswa M. Vxalika, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group
  • Michele G. Kautzman, Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group
  • Kristin M. Wall, Emory University
  • Susan A. Allen, Emory University
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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 = 600) and Lusaka, Zambia (n = 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,
  • Voluntary,
  • Testing,
  • Urban Rwanda,
  • Zambia,
  • Household survey
Disciplines
Publication Date
March, 2011
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0019573
Publisher Statement
Copyright Statement: © 2011 Kelley et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Article obtained from PLoS ONE.
Citation Information
April L. Kelley, Etienne Karita, Patrick S. Sullivan, Francois Katanguila, et al.. "Knowledge and Perceptions of Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Urban Rwanda and Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Household Survey" PLoS ONE Vol. 6 Iss. 5 (2011) p. e19573
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joseph_telfair/112/