HIV-related knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and utilisation of HIV counselling and testing: a venue-based intercept commuter population survey in the inner city of Johannesburg, South Africa.
BACKGROUND
HIV counselling and testing (HCT) and knowledge about HIV have been key strategies utilised in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS worldwide. HIV knowledge and uptake of HCT services in sub-Saharan Africa are still low. This study was conducted to determine factors associated with HCT and HIV/AIDS knowledge levels among a commuter population in Johannesburg, South Africa.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the factors associated with HCT uptake among the commuter population.


METHODS
A simple random sampling method was used to select participants in a venue-based intercept survey at a taxi rank in the Johannesburg Central Business District. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis assessed factors associated with HIV testing stratified by gender.


RESULTS
1,146 respondents were interviewed, the maority (n=579, 50.5%) were females and (n=780, 68.1%) were over 25 years of age. Overall HCT knowledge was high (n=951, 83%) with more females utilising HCT facilities. There was a significant difference in HIV testing for respondents living closer to and further away from health facilities. Slightly more than half of the respondents indicated stigma as one of the barriers for testing (n=594, 52%, p-value=0.001). For males, living with a partner (aOR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.02-2.78, p-value: 0.041) and possessing a post-primary education were positively associated with testing (aOR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.15-3.47, p-value: 0.014), whereas stigma and discrimination reduced the likelihood of testing (aOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.31-0.62, p-value: <0.001). For females, having one sexual partner (aOR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.19-5.90, p-value: 0.017) and a low perceived benefit for HIV testing (aOR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30-0.96, p-value: 0.035) were associated with HIV testing.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall HIV/AIDS knowledge was generally high. Gender-specific health education and HIV intervention programmes are needed for improved access to HCT services. One favourable intervention would be the use of home-based HCT programmes.
Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Research Institute (Wits RHI), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lucy
L
Chimoyi
Community AIDS Response, Norwood, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ndumiso
N
Tshuma
Community AIDS Response, Norwood, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Keith
K
Muloongo
HIV/AIDS, STI and TB (HAST) Research Program, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Pretoria, South Africa.|Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa.
Geoffrey
G
Setswe
Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana.
Bismark
B
Sarfo
School of Health Sciences, Monash University, Ruimsig, Johannesburg, South Africa.|Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; peter.nyasulu@monash.edu.
Peter S
PS
Nyasulu
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D057545:Social Stigma; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
HCT; HIV/AIDS; Johannesburg; commuter population; stigma