Evaluation of HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) program the detection and Care of HIV patients in a Tertiary centre in Nigeria

Abstract

Background. WHO recommends evaluation of HTC programme to determine the effectiveness in increasing
screening for HIV. These programs are particularly effective in detection and care of people with HIV in a
resource limited environment. Evaluation is to be done at the time of planning the strategy and at any time
during the program's history. The study objectives are to elucidate the usefulness of HTC in the diagnosis of new
cases of HIV,and to assess the contribution of Client-initiated testing and counseling (CITC) and Providerinitiated testing and counseling (PITC) in detection of HIV..
Methods and Materials. Information was obtained using a pre-tested questionnaire before and after HIV
test from patients presenting for HTC.
Result. Ninety-one peopleassessed HTC at ObafemiAwolowo University Teaching Hospitals' Complex,
Wesley Guild Unit during the period of 2009 and 2010. Of these, 37.4% (34/91) were HIV positive. Age analysis
shows 70.3% (64/91) between 21-40 years old with 32.8% (21/64) HIV positive. Males made up 48.5% (17/34)
of those positive. HIV was more among the married (51.2%; 31/56) than singles (8.6%; 3/35), and this was
significant (p= 0.000). CIHTC made up 37.4% (34/91) of clients seen while PIHTC was 62.6% (57/91). PIHTC
was significantly higher in detection of HIV positive clients (p= 0.001).
Conclusion. HIV was detectedin 37% of clients who had HTC. They were mostly married people, and many of
them had no plan to disclose to their status to their spouses. PIHTC is of more importance than CIHTC in the
detection of new cases of HIV.
Key words: HIV, testing and counseling, HIV patients.