Factors associated with utilization of voluntary counseling and a testing for HIV-sero status among soldiers in national service.

dc.contributor.authorSobbo, Ngunduly Abdallah
dc.date.accessioned2016-05-12T03:19:15Z
dc.date.accessioned2020-01-08T10:05:51Z
dc.date.available2016-05-12T03:19:15Z
dc.date.available2020-01-08T10:05:51Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractVoluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a HIV/AIDS prevention method which has been found to be one of the cost effective methods and a powerful tool to induce behaviour change, and reduce the HIV infection. However, the VCT service has not effectively been utilized in the National Service. The main objective of this study was to identify obstacles which contribute to the low usage of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) service among the soldiers in National Service. Cross-sectional survey was conducted in National Service camps during June - July 2004 to explore factors associated with utilization of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV-sero status among the soldiers in National Services. A total of 240 soldiers of different ranks were interviewed. Results of this study indicate that 89.2% of the respondent were aware of HIV/AIDS transmission. Separation of soldiers from their families was cited by 75.8% as contributing to HIV infection among the soldiers. However, only 65.0% of the respondents were aware of the package of the VCT services. Lack of confidentiality contribute to low utilization of VCR service run by the National Service by 33.8% leading to preference of VCT service offered elsewhere. Stigma accompanied by discrimination for the HIV positive soldiers make them shy away from using VCT services. This problem was cited by 16.3% of the respondents interviewed. These results show that something has to be done to improve the utilization of VCT services. The actions needed include: Promotion of HIV/AIDS education in the army to address the problem of stigma; discrimination; create conducive environment; preferential treatment of HIV positive soldiers; and their families and ensure quality assurance of VCT services.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSobbo, N. A. (2004). Factors associated with utilization of voluntary counseling and a testing for HIV-sero status among soldiers in national service. Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx?parentpriref=)en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5944
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Dar es Salaamen_US
dc.subjectAIDS (Desease)en_US
dc.subjectHIV infectionen_US
dc.subjectInformed confenten_US
dc.subjectHIV autibodiesen_US
dc.subjectTestingen_US
dc.subjectVoluntary counseling and testing (VCT)en_US
dc.titleFactors associated with utilization of voluntary counseling and a testing for HIV-sero status among soldiers in national service.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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