Voluntary counseling and testing among post-partum women in Botswana.
OBJECTIVE
To determine uptake and socio-demographics predictors of acceptance of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) among post-partum women in Botswana.


METHODS
Women attending maternal and child health clinics for their first post-partum or well baby visit in three sites in Botswana were offered VCT after a written informed consent. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics and reasons for declining VCT.


RESULTS
From March 1999 to November 2000, we approached 1735 post-partum women. Only 937 (54%) of those approached accepted VCT. In multiple logistic regression analysis, younger maternal age, not being married, and less formal education were significant predictors of acceptance of VCT. Thirty percent of women who accepted VCT were HIV-positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated that in Botswana prior to the initiation of a government Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) prevention program, younger, unmarried, and less educated post-partum women were more likely to undergo VCT.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results have shown that interventions to improve VCT among post-partum women and more generally among women of reproductive age are warranted in Botswana. These interventions should account for differences such age, marital status, education, and partner involvement to maximize VCT uptake.
Thior
Ibou
I
The Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Botswana. ithior@bhp.org.bw
Gabaitiri
Lesego
L
Grimes
Janet
J
Shapiro
Roger
R
Lockman
Shahin
S
Kim
Soyeon
S
Kebaabetswe
Poloko
P
Garmey
Edward
E
Montano
Monty
M
Peter
Trevor
T
Chang
Su-Yuan
SY
Marlink
Ric
R
Essex
Max
M
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D017533:Marital Status; D008423:Maternal Age; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035141:Voluntary Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*