Factors preventing the uptake of HIV counseling and testing (HCT) programmes : the case of the Industrial Development Corporation in Johannesburg, South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV counseling and testing (HCT) is a cornerstone of both HIV prevention and care in South Africa, but only one in five South Africans who are aware of HCT services have been tested for HIV and hence the uptake is reportedly low. This study investigated factors that prevent the uptake of HCT programme in the workplace. Specific factors that were looked at include: fear of learning about one‟s HIV status, HIV-stigma and discrimination and knowledge of and attitudes towards HCT. The study employed descriptive survey design; anonymous questionnaires were randomly distributed irrespective of age, gender, marital status, race, educational level, work position and experience. Closed and open-ended easy- to- answer questions which were written in English were asked; and they required fewer instructions. Ethical issues were considered and university guidelines followed. The results of this study showed that a great proportion of participants (93.8%) tested for HIV as compared to (6.2%) who had never tested. Of these, 59.4 % tested because they wanted to know their HIV status and, 43.8% of participants preferred using the workplace HCT programme for convenience; while 50% used private facilities for privacy and confidentiality. The study further established that fear of knowing one‟s HIV status, workplace discrimination, knowledge of and attitudes towards HCT were not associated with workplace HCT programme uptake. The results did however show that both participants who had tested and those who had not tested (68.8%) demonstrated significantly greater AIDS-related stigma.Supportive and collaborative efforts are necessary to create and promote an enabling and conducive environment in order to dispel workplace HIV-related stigma. In addition, it is imperative to develop and implement workplace stigma mitigation strategy putting in place interventions that aim to reduce all forms of stigma, as well as emphasizing on the benefits of testing.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University