Decliners of provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling: Characteristics of participants who refused HIV testing in a population survey in Zambia

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Pascalina Chanda-Kapata, William Ngosa, Albertina Ngomah Moraes, Nicole Maddox, Nathan Kapata
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015
• Subjects: HIV/AIDS; Zambia; Testing; Refusals; Population survey; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.05.010; https://doaj.org/article/6a6709f813044cdcb4afe6bc952fa811

Objective: To assess the prevalence of HIV infection, to highlight HIV-testing refusal rates among participants in a population-based tuberculosis survey and to assess the implication for programme implementation. Methods: This cross-sectional study on the characteristics of participants who refused HIV testing was conducted in a national survey in Zambia. All eligible participants were aged above 15 years and included in the analysis. Results: Out of the 44 791 tuberculosis survey participants, 14 164 (31.6%) refused to participate in HIV testing. The unemployed, rural dwellers, married, and those aged 15–24 years were associated with higher refusal rates. Conclusions: Strategies to improve HIV testing acceptance are necessary. Qualitative research is recommended to understand the reasons for testing refusals so that remedial interventions can be implemented.