Need Assessment And Predicting Factors For Acceptability Of Voluntary Counseling And Testing Study Among Former Blood Donor

Objectives: By the end of 2004, 3000 thousand people died of HIV/AIDS, and 4000 thousand people living are still living with HIV/AIDS. There have been AIDS case reported from every country. Now China, also faces the threat from AIDS. By the end of September 2004, the cumulative number of reported HIV positive cases was 89067, with significant increases in reported infectious since 2002 in China. The national estimate of the number of people living with HIV at the end of 2003 was 840,000,with a prevalence rate in the general population of 0.07%. Since the first HIV case was reported in 1985, national HIV prevalence remains low. However, cluster of high prevalence exist, both geographically and among specific sub-groups. There are indications that the disease is spreading from high incidence groups to the general population. Injecting drug use (IDU) is the main transmission method. Infection through commercial blood and plasma donors primarily occurred during1992~1996, but the proportion of HIV positive reported case through this way accounts for 24.1%. By September 2003, HIV cases infected through former commercial blood and plasma donation were reported in all 31 provinces/ autonomous regions/municipalities, except Tibet. The 2003 epidemiological survey covering 30 areas of 14 provinces/autonomous regions showed an overall prevalence of 2.7%. The HIV prevalence among this group is more than 40% in some areas in Henan. It is estimated that approximately half of these HIV cases have become AIDS patients. More and more, former blood donors will face the dread, medical and social problem brought by AIDS. Most of HIV infected with HIV do not know their sero-status. It is important to make HIV positive people know their HIV status in order to provide support and encourage them to change HIV related behaviors. HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a mean to make more people aware of their HIV status, and help them change high risk behaviors, and provide early care for HIV related diseases. In order to find HIV positive people as soon as possible, and to carry out "four frees and one care"policy, Ministry of Health issued a regulation "standard for free HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing management"(pilot). Through this study, we can have a better understanding of FBDs background and their acceptance to VCT, and the difficulties and barriers in delivering VCT service. In addition, this study provided valuable information and suggestions on how to implement VCT in this special group. Method:The study sites are Yongqing and Gu'an, Hebei province. It estimated 20,000 thousand former blood donors in two counties.The study used both a quantitative and qualitative research method. Quantitative research performed by face-to-face interviews using questionnaires. Qualitative research performed group discussion and in-depth interviews. The study target former blood donors, medical staffs and health managers. Quantitative data have been input into Epidata3.0, and analyzed by SPSS11.5. Results: This study interviewed 730 former blood donors, 163 medical staff and 10 health managers. 1 Former blood donors Almost all high risk groups were interviewed on the knowledge related with HIV/AIDS. More than 70% of them know the HIV transmission routes, however, the proportion correctly excluding non-transmission routes are low. And they know less about method to prevent HIV. The proportion of them who feel that HIV testing should be confidential is low. Most of them are very glad to help other people living with HIV/AIDS. However, few of them have accepted VCT services, and the proportion of seeking HIV counseling actively is only 9.2%, and 14.9% of them have accepted an HIV test. Previously, most of them (87.4%) are willing to have an HIV test done. The main method to encourage this group to accept HIV test by providing free VCT service and outreach and strengthen propaganda. Multi-analysis result showed predicting factors for accepting VCT service are the educational level and the knowledge relate HIV/AIDS.