title: Voluntary counseling and testing among post-partum women in Botswana.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: The Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Botswana. ithior@bhp.org.bw
authors.forename: Ibou
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thior
authors.forename: Lesego
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gabaitiri
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lockman
authors.forename: Soyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Poloko
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kebaabetswe
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garmey
authors.forename: Monty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montano
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Su-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ric
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marlink
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Essex
mesh_terms: 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*