Knowledge, perception and practice of community members on HIV testing and counseling services in children in Phalombe district

HIV is the most dangerous STD affecting people of all ages. In children it is mostly transmitted through maternal — fetal transfer. The HIV & AIDS incidence is on the increase in both women and children. HTC is done in order to detect the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood and it involves...

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Main Author: Mpachika, Felistas
Format: Other
Language:English
Published: Kamuzu University of Health Sciences 2022
Online Access:http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw/handle/20.500.12845/360
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author Mpachika, Felistas
author_facet Mpachika, Felistas
author_sort Mpachika, Felistas
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description HIV is the most dangerous STD affecting people of all ages. In children it is mostly transmitted through maternal — fetal transfer. The HIV & AIDS incidence is on the increase in both women and children. HTC is done in order to detect the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood and it involves counseling, before and after the test. The aim of this study was to establish community members' knowledge, perception and practice towards HTC services in children in Phalombe district. The study had the following objectives: to assess the level of knowledge of community members on HTC in children, to explore the factors that hinder the community from utilizing the HTC services, to assess the community's attitude towards HTC in children and to assess the level of satisfaction with the available HTC services in Phalombe district. The study was qualitative descriptive in nature. Both the pilot and the main study were conducted in Bokosi village T. A Mkhumba in Phalombe district in August and September 2009 respectively. A purposively selected sample was used and data was collected in 3 FGD's of 8-12 people using a focus group discussion guide. Data was analyzed manually. The findings of the study revealed that most of the community members were aware of how HIV is transmitted in children but they had no knowledge that children can also get tested. Lack of knowledge on testing, fear of stigma and discrimination were the major hindrances to HIV testing of children. The study also found out that the unfair treatment that HIV positive clients get in health facilities was one of the hindrances to HIV testing in some community members. The study therefore recommended that health workers should sensitize community members on HIV in children and the availability of HTC services to this group.
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spelling oai:nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw:20.500.12845-3602023-03-12T00:07:50Z Knowledge, perception and practice of community members on HIV testing and counseling services in children in Phalombe district Mpachika, Felistas HIV is the most dangerous STD affecting people of all ages. In children it is mostly transmitted through maternal — fetal transfer. The HIV & AIDS incidence is on the increase in both women and children. HTC is done in order to detect the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood and it involves counseling, before and after the test. The aim of this study was to establish community members' knowledge, perception and practice towards HTC services in children in Phalombe district. The study had the following objectives: to assess the level of knowledge of community members on HTC in children, to explore the factors that hinder the community from utilizing the HTC services, to assess the community's attitude towards HTC in children and to assess the level of satisfaction with the available HTC services in Phalombe district. The study was qualitative descriptive in nature. Both the pilot and the main study were conducted in Bokosi village T. A Mkhumba in Phalombe district in August and September 2009 respectively. A purposively selected sample was used and data was collected in 3 FGD's of 8-12 people using a focus group discussion guide. Data was analyzed manually. The findings of the study revealed that most of the community members were aware of how HIV is transmitted in children but they had no knowledge that children can also get tested. Lack of knowledge on testing, fear of stigma and discrimination were the major hindrances to HIV testing of children. The study also found out that the unfair treatment that HIV positive clients get in health facilities was one of the hindrances to HIV testing in some community members. The study therefore recommended that health workers should sensitize community members on HIV in children and the availability of HTC services to this group. 2022-04-01T12:27:31Z 2022-04-01T12:27:31Z 2009-12-01 Other http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw/handle/20.500.12845/360 en application/pdf Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
spellingShingle Mpachika, Felistas
Knowledge, perception and practice of community members on HIV testing and counseling services in children in Phalombe district
title Knowledge, perception and practice of community members on HIV testing and counseling services in children in Phalombe district
title_full Knowledge, perception and practice of community members on HIV testing and counseling services in children in Phalombe district
title_fullStr Knowledge, perception and practice of community members on HIV testing and counseling services in children in Phalombe district
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, perception and practice of community members on HIV testing and counseling services in children in Phalombe district
title_short Knowledge, perception and practice of community members on HIV testing and counseling services in children in Phalombe district
title_sort knowledge, perception and practice of community members on hiv testing and counseling services in children in phalombe district
url http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw/handle/20.500.12845/360
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