Botswana’s Tebelopele Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Network: Use and Client Risk Factors for HIV Infection, 2000–2004

Type Journal Article - JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Title Botswana’s Tebelopele Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Network: Use and Client Risk Factors for HIV Infection, 2000–2004
Author(s)
Volume 43
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2006
Page numbers 210-218
URL http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thierry_Roels/publication/6837633_Botswana's_Tebelopele_voluntar​y_HIV_counseling_and_testing_network_use_and_client_risk_factors_for_HIV_infection_2000-2004/links/5​46324700cf2837efdb027fa.pdf
Abstract
Background: HIV services, including voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, expanded rapidly in Botswana from 2000 through 2004.

Methods: Client data from Botswana’s Tebelopele VCT network were analyzed to describe clients, factors associated with HIV infection, and trends in VCT use.

Results: Tebelopele provided free, anonymous, same-day HIV tests for 117,234 clients from 2000 through 2004. Before ARV therapy was available, 8.3% of clients sought a test because of illness, and 26.3% were HIV-positive. After ARV therapy became available, 20.1% of clients sought a test because of illness, and 38.8% were HIV-positive. Most VCT clients (82.7%) were unmarried; 89.8% reported no or 1 sexual partner in the last 3 months; and 50.2% of unmarried clients reported always using condoms in the last 3 months. In multivariate analysis, higher educational level, marriage, and always using condoms were associated with a lower risk of HIV. Having only 1 recent sexual partner was associated with less condom use and a higher risk of being HIV-positive for men.

Conclusions: VCT has been well accepted in Botswana. Analysis of this data set supports efforts to promote 100% condom use and to emphasize that partner reduction must be combined with condom use and HIV testing to protect against HIV.

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