A study into factors contributing to low utilization of voluntary counselling and testing of Human Immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

This research was conducted to elicit factors contributing to low utilisation of VCT in HIV in Mufumbwe District in North-Western of Zambia. The study reviewed that knowledge of VCT in Mufumbwe district is high; 95% among health workers and 75% among community respondents. The main sources of information include health workers, radio/TV, relatives/friends and through seminars/workshops. 60% of the community respondents do not know where VCT is offered in the District.Utilisation of VCT is still very low; 30% for health workers and 6% of community respondents had ever gone for VCT services. The main reasons given for lack of utilisation of VCT are attributed to fear to know one's HIV status, lack of knowledge or awareness of VCT and inaccessibility of the service.The research further reviewed that only one public institution offers VCT and there was one NGO rendering care and support to the community. Therefore, whereas knowledge of VCT is very high, its utilisation is indeed very low.