Abstract

PIP: HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) has been given low priority as a possible strategy for combating HIV in developing countries. This is because of the high demands on logistics and skills that the intervention entails. It is the view that individuals have low motivation to know their test results and modify behavior, and the nonexistence of medical care that could make a difference. Although studies on the benefits and efficiency of VCT have shown that the intervention is effective in promoting behavioral change and is cost-effective as well, there is still a need to make VCT accessible to those who desperately need it and to expand and render it more acceptable, innocuous, and less expensive. To this effect, access should first be provided in existing community health services. In addition, other standards of quality necessary for the implementation of VCT services include building up of capacity and infrastructure, respect of confidentiality, counseling of couples when needed and feasible, availability of psychosocial support beyond the post-test period, and avoidance of coercion and social stigma and their consequences.