title: Client satisfaction with HIV counseling services: a cross-sectional study from south India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Client satisfaction is a good predictor of performance of health programs. Hence, clients' perception and satisfaction studies provide insight to improve the program.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess clients' perception and satisfaction with Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) for HIV in an operational setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 191 client exit interviews from 12 ICTCs. The clients were stratified into general and antenatal clients. A systematic random sampling was done at high client load centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cumulative client satisfaction was found to be 60% (±24%). Most of the clients (76%) agreed that counseling cleared doubts about HIV and found counseling beneficial (71%). Only 32% of the clients could recall issues discussed during the sessions. However, 92.5% were satisfied with ICTC facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor perception and low satisfaction with ICTCs needs to be addressed as this could have a direct bearing on the program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Manipal University, Mangalore, India. mohan.papanna@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mohan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Papanna
authors.forename: Pawan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.forename: Unnikrishnan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bhaskaran
authors.forename: Sahoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saddichha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035141:Voluntary Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult