Knowledge, attitude and practice of voluntary counselling and testing by HIV and AIDS counsellors

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out whether or not HIV and AIDS counsellors in Kumasi Metropolis in Ashanti Region are: aware of national HIV and AIDS policy and policy guidelines, have requisite minimum training in HIV and AIDS counselling and care, have the necessary human resources for VCT, and have the minimum level of conceptual knowledge about VCT. It was meant to ascertain whether VCT as practiced, conforms with the minimum guidelines set by the UNAIDS as well as finding out if VCT is widely available in all the selected hospitals for the study in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study involved 25 HIV and AIDS counsellors and 36 clients from three Kumasi Metropolis hospitals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Data were collected using questionnaire consisting of 60 items, some of which consisted of statements to which the respondents were to respond to. The results of the study indicated that, there were national policy and some guidelines on VCT. Greater majority (78%) of the respondents did understand what the concept VCT entails. Lack of trained (volunteer) and designated staff to oversee the successful implementation of VCT and inadequate human resource base were some of the impediments identified. The general practice of VCT in Kumasi Metropolis hospitals to a large extent conforms with UNAIDS standards. It was recommended that the National Aids Commission (NAC) make available adequate number of trained voluntary and designated staffs to oversee the successful implementation of VCT in the Kumasi Metropolis.