title: Health workers' participation in voluntary counselling and testing in three districts of Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the proportion of health workers who had undergone VCT for HIV in three districts of Mashonaland East Province and to further explore reasons for non-participation in those who had not been tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in the rural Districts of Murewa, Mutoko and Mudzi in Mashonaland East province.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a descriptive cross sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  All categories of health workers in Murewa, Mutoko and Mudzi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participation in VCT, and reason for non-participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 200 questionnaires sent out 183 (91.5%) were completed and returned. The majority of the respondents were nurses 142 (77.6%), female 113 (61.7%), married 135 (73.8%). The median age was 33 (Q1; 28: Q3; 38) and they had attained a high school education 137 (74.9%). Of the respondents 160 (87.4%) had not gone for VCT; 141 (77%) did not want to have an HIV test. The reasons for not being willing to have an HIV test included not being ready to go for VCT 154 (84.2%); could not cope with the results, 143 (78.1%), do not have the courage to go 133 (72.7%); no need for testing as there is no cure for HIV/AIDS 106 (57.9%). One hundred and twenty six (69%) indicated that they needed counselling for them to be able to go for VCT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV/AIDS programmes have been directed at the community at large neglecting the health worker. This study, therefore, recommends programmes specifically tailor-made for health workers. These programmes should have a strong counselling component and should focus on self-efficacy so that health workers can finally be ready, be able to cope with HIV results and have the courage to participate in VCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tarwireyi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Majoko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology