Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Factors Associated with HIV Testing Among Public Sector Clinic Attendees in Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Uptake of VCT remains low in many sub-Saharan African countries. Men and women aged 15 and older were recruited from a family planning, STI, and VCT clinic in inner-city Johannesburg between 2004 and 2005 to take part in a cross-sectional survey on HIV testing (n = 198). Fourty-eight percent of participants reported previously testing for HIV and, of these, 86.9% reported disclosing their status to their sex partner. In multivariable analyses, individuals whose partners had been tested for HIV were more likely to have tested (AOR 2.92; 95% CI: 1.38–6.20). In addition, those who reported greater blame/shame attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS were less likely to have tested (AOR 0.35; 95% CI: 0.16–0.77) while those reporting more equitable attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS were more likely to have tested (AOR 2.87; 95% CI: 1.20–6.86). Promotion of and increased access to couples HIV testing should be made available within the South African context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, S., Karita, E., Chomba, E., Roth, D., Telfair, J., Zulu, I., et al. (2007). Promotion of couples’ voluntary counselling and testing for HIV through influential networks in two African capital cities. BMC Public Health, 7, 349. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-349.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, S., Meinzen-Derr, J., Kautzman, M., Zulu, I., Trask, S., Fideli, U., et al. (2003). Sexual behavior of HIV discordant couples after HIV counseling and testing. AIDS (London, England), 17(5), 733–740. doi:10.1097/00002030-200303280-00012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbett, E. L., Makamure, B., Cheung, Y. B., Dauya, E., Matambo, R., Bandason, T., et al. (2007). HIV incidence during a cluster-randomized trial of two strategies providing voluntary counselling and testing at the workplace, Zimbabwe. AIDS (London, England), 21(4), 483–489. doi:10.1097/QAD.0b013e3280115402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalal, R., MacPhail, C., Mqhayi, M., Wing, J., Feldman, C., Chersich, M., et al. (2007). Characteristics and outcomes of adult patients discontinuing follow-up at an antiretroviral treatment clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 47(1), 101–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Day, J. H., Miyamura, K., Grant, A. D., Leeuw, A., Munsamy, J., Baggaley, R., et al. (2003). Attitudes to HIV voluntary counselling and testing among mineworkers in South Africa: Will availability of antiretroviral therapy encourage testing? AIDS Care, 15(5), 665–672. doi:10.1080/0954012030001595140.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunkle, K. L., Stephenson, R., Karita, E., Chomba, E., Kayitenkore, K., Vwalika, C., et al. (2008). New heterosexually transmitted HIV infections in married or cohabiting couples in urban Zambia and Rwanda: An analysis of survey and clinical data. Lancet, 371(9631), 2183–2191. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60953-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Genberg, B. L., Kawichai, S., Chingono, A., Sendah, M., Chariyalertsak, S., Konda, K. A., et al. (2008). Assessing HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in developing countries. AIDS and Behavior, 12(5), 772–780. doi:10.1007/s10461-007-9340-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S. C., & Simbayi, L. C. (2003). HIV testing attitudes, AIDS stigma, and voluntary HIV counselling and testing in a black township in Cape Town, South Africa. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 79(6), 442–447. doi:10.1136/sti.79.6.442.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King, R., Katuntu, D., Lifshay, J., Packel, L., Batamwita, R., Nakayiwa, S., et al. (2008). Processes and outcomes of HIV serostatus disclosure to sexual partners among people living with HIV in Uganda. AIDS and Behavior, 12(2), 232–243. doi:10.1007/s10461-007-9307-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 363–385. doi:10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacPhail, C., Pettifor, A., Coates, T., & Rees, H. (2008a). ‘You must do the test to know your status’: Attitudes to voluntary counseling and testing for HIV among South African youth and their parents. Health Education & Behavior, 35(1), 87–104. doi:10.1177/1090198106286442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacPhail, C., Pettifor, A., Moyo, W., & Rees, H. (2008b). Factors associated with HIV testing among South African youth aged 15–24 years. AIDS Care (in press).

  • Maman, S., Mbwambo, J., Hogan, N., Weiss, E., Kilonzo, G., & Sweat, M. (2003). High rates and positive outcomes of HIV-serostatus disclosure to sexual partners: Reasons or cautious optimism from a voluntary counseling and testing clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. AIDS and Behavior, 7(4), 372–382. doi:10.1023/B:AIBE.0000004729.89102.d4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medley, A., Garcia-Moreno, C., McGill, S., & Maman, S. (2004). Rates, barriers and outcomes of HIV serostatus disclosure among women in developing countries: Implications for prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 82(4), 299–307.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, A. N., & Rubin, D. L. (2007). Factors leading to self-disclosure of a positive diagnosis in Nairobi, Kenya: People living with HIV/AIDS in the sub-Sahara. Qualitative Health Research, 17(5), 586–598. doi:10.1177/1049732307301498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin, S. F., Khumalo-Sakutukwa, G., Charlebois, E. D., Routh, J., Fritz, K., Lane, T., et al. (2006). Removing barriers to knowing HIV status: Same-day mobile HIV testing in Zimbabwe. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 41(2), 218–224. doi:10.1097/01.qai.0000179455.01068.ab.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mwamburi, D., Dladla, N., Qwana, E., & Lurie, M. (2005). Factors associated with wanting to know HIV results in South Africa. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 19(8), 518–525. doi:10.1089/apc.2005.19.518.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Painter, T. M. (2001). Voluntary counseling and testing for couples: A high-leverage intervention for HIV/AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. Social Science and Medicine, 53(11), 1397–1411. doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00427-5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petros, G., Airhihenbuwa, C., Simbayi, L., Ramlagan, S., & Brown, B. (2006). HIV/AIDS and ‘othering’ in South Africa: The blame goes on. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 8(1), 67–77. doi:10.1080/13691050500391489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettifor, A., Rees, H., Kleinschmidt, I., Steffenson, A., MacPhail, C., Hlongwa-Madikizela, L., et al. (2005). Young people’s sexual health in South Africa: HIV prevalence and sexual behaviours from a nationally representative household survey. AIDS (London, England), 19, 1525–1534. doi:10.1097/01.aids.0000183129.16830.06.

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Accept. A Phase III randomized controlled trial of community mobilization, mobile testing, same-day results, and post-test support for HIV in sub-Saharan Africa and Thailand. http://www.cbvct.med.ucla.edu/overview.html. Accessed 2007.

  • Sherr, L., Lopman, B., Kakowa, M., Dube, S., Chawira, G., Nyamukapa, C., et al. (2007). Voluntary counselling and testing: Uptake, impact on sexual behaviour, and HIV incidence in a rural Zimbabwean cohort. AIDS (London, England), 21(7), 851–860. doi:10.1097/QAD.0b013e32805e8711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shisana, O., & Simbayi, L. (2002). Nelson Mandela/HSRC study of HIV/AIDS. South African National HIV prevalence, behavioural risks and mass media household survey 2002. Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shisana, O., & Simbayi, L. (2005). Nelson Mandela/HSRC study of HIV/AIDS South African National HIV prevalence, behavioural risks and mass media household survey 2005. Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigxashe, T. A., Baggaley, R., & Mathews, C. (2001). Attitudes to disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners. South African Medical Journal, 91(11), 908–909.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R., & Morrison, D. (2006). The impact of stigma, experience, and group referent on HIV risk assessments and HIV testing intentions in Namibia. Social Science and Medicine, 63(10), 2649–2660. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.07.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • The voluntary HIV-1 counseling, testing efficacy study group. (2000). Efficacy of voluntary HIV-1 counselling and testing in individuals and couples in Kenya, Tanzania, and Trinidad: A randomised trial. Lancet, 356, 103–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valdiserri, R., Holtgrave, D., & West, G. (1999). Promoting early HIV diagnosis and entry into care. AIDS (London, England), 13, 2317–2330. doi:10.1097/00002030-199912030-00003.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO, UNAIDS, & UNICEF. (2007). Towards universal access: Scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector. Geneva: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Audrey Pettifor.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pettifor, A., MacPhail, C., Suchindran, S. et al. Factors Associated with HIV Testing Among Public Sector Clinic Attendees in Johannesburg, South Africa. AIDS Behav 14, 913–921 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9462-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9462-5

Keywords

Navigation