FREQUENCY AND TREND IN UPTAKE OF HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING IN THE HEALTH SECTOR IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA: A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW.
Formerly Published in Vol. 5 No. 8 Jan. - Jun., 2020
Keywords:
HIV Counseling and Testing, trends, seropositivityAbstract
Background: HIV counseling and testing (HCT) is a pivotal intervention in the prevention and control of HIV. It is the gateway to early treatment, care and support for people living with HIV (PLHIV). HCT also provides a platform to provide support for HIV negative individuals to enable them adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to remain HIV seronegative.
Objectives: This study was carried out to describe the frequency in the uptake and outcome of health facility-based HIV Counseling and testing services in Abia stat as well as reviewed the monitoring and evaluation unit of Abia State Agency for the Control of AIDS (AbiaSACA) on information on HCT. Methods: Data from 84 health facilities all over the state as well as the AbiaSACA over a period of 5 years was reviewed and analysed. These data consisted of those who had counselling and were tested for HIV using nationally accepted testing methods.
Results: Out of the total of 559,113 individuals tested over a period of 5 years, 39,784 (7.1%) tested positive. There was a yearly increase in number of individuals tested for HIV, but a progressive decline in HIV seropositive rate from 12.9% in 2012 to 4.0% in 2016. Females were disproportionately more infected than males while individuals in the 25-49 age-groups had the highest HIV positive rate compared to other age groups. The prevalence of HIV among individuals with Sexually Transmitted Infections was higher than in the general population through all the years studied.
Conclusion: There was yearly increase in the uptake of HCT services in the State. Females were disproportionately more infected than males though there was a consistent decline in seropositivity rate over the years. Measures to maintain HCT preventive activities are encouraged and should be expanded.
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