title: Factors Enabling Access to HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing for Key Affected Populations in Thailand.
abstract: The objective was to study the factors that enabled persons at risk of HIV to obtain voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in Thailand. This research was a cross-sectional study and data were collected during May to July 2013 in 8, purposively selected provinces. The method for selecting respondents used time-location quota sampling to achieve a total sample of 751 persons. The proportion who had VCT in the year prior to the survey was 56%.The significant enabling factors associated with VCT were having someone encourage them to go for testing and receiving information about VCT In addition, other significant factors for female sex workers were self-assessed risk for HIV and having had risk behavior, and for men who have sex with men the factors were awareness of eligibility for VCT. Thus, in order to achieve the VCT target for higher risk populations by 2016, there should be special mechanisms to inform the different groups, along with improvements in outreach services to make VCT more convenient for key affected populations.
authors.affiliation: ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand bungon.the@mahidol.ac.th.
authors.forename: Bang-on
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Thepthien
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Supattra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srivanichakorn
authors.affiliation: Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kanya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Apipornchaisakul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011287:Prejudice; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013240:Stereotyping; D013785:Thailand; D035141:Voluntary Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV; Thailand; key affected populations; voluntary counseling and testing