title: The experiences of HIV-positive women living in an African village: perceptions of voluntary counseling and testing programs.
abstract: Kenya has approximately 1.4 million adults infected with HIV/AIDS, with a national prevalence rate of approximately 7.4%. The majority of the Kenyan people have not participated in a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) program and do not know their HIV status. This increases the likelihood of infecting others and spreading the disease. The
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Living in fear, making the decision to be tested, the journey toward acceptance, changing behavior, planning for the future, and encouraging others to be tested. VCT programs are crucial in attaining goals related to the prevention and management of AIDS. By exploring these women's experiences and perceptions, issues concerning AIDS and the acceptance and use of VCT may be better understood.
authors.affiliation: California State University, Chico, Chico, CA, USA. jgardner@csuchico.edu
authors.forename: Janelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D003954:Diagnostic Services; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D035141:Voluntary Programs; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult