What Works—HIV Testing and Counseling for Women
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Interventions are needed that support women safely through the disclosure process.
- 2.
- Efforts are needed to identify opportunities to offer HIV testing and counseling in health care settings that might reach women who are otherwise inaccessible, such as within post-abortion care services.
- 3.
- Further efforts are needed to ensure optimal counseling strategies and topics, such as pre- and post-test counseling and detailed information about treatment and the risks within marriage.
- 4.
- Interventions are needed to reduce the risk of provider coercion in HIV testing, particularly in provider-initiated testing and counseling.
- 5.
- Further efforts are needed to make HIV testing and counseling available and accessible to young people.
1. Interventions are needed that support women safely through the disclosure process. Studies found that women experienced increased violence and abandonment following disclosure.
Gap noted, for example, in Uganda (Emusu et al., 2009); Brazil (Silva and Ayres, 2008); and Tanzania (Milay et al., 2008 and Maman et al., 2001a).
Emusu, D., N. Ivankova, P. Jolly, R. Kirby, H. Foushee, F. Wabwire-Mangen, D. Katongole and J. Ehri. 2009. “Experience of Sexual Violence among Women in HIV Discordant Unions after Voluntary HIV Counselling and Testing: A Qualitative Critical Incident Study in Uganda.” AIDS Care 21 (11): 1363-1370.
2. Efforts are needed to identify opportunities to offer HIV testing and counseling in health care settings that might reach women who are otherwise inaccessible, such as within post-abortion care services. Studies found that abortion and post-abortion care services failed to offer HIV testing to women.
Gap noted generally by Askew and Berer, 2003; de Bruyn, 2003 and Oosterhoff et al., 2008.
3. Further efforts are needed to ensure optimal counseling strategies and topics, such as pre- and post-test counseling and detailed information about treatment and the risks within marriage. Studies found that women who went for an HIV test prior to marriage felt they did not need another HIV test for the duration of the marriage and that pre-test counseling was important.
Gap noted, for example, globally (Jurgens, 2007a); in Tanzania (Mmbaga et al., 2009); in Ethiopia (Bradley et al., 2008b); and Zimbabwe (Sherr et al., 2007).
Jurgens, R. 2007a. “Increasing Access to HIV Testing and Counseling While Respecting Human Rights – Background Paper. “ New York, NY: Public Health Program of the Open Society Institute. http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/articles_publications/publications/testing_20070907
4. Interventions are needed to reduce the risk of provider coercion in HIV testing, particularly in provider-initiated testing and counseling. Studies found that significant numbers of women felt that they could not refuse an HIV test or that HIV testing was mandatory.
Gap noted, for example, in South Africa (Groves et al., 2009); Botswana (PHR, 2007a and Weiser et al., 2006a); China (Li et al., 2007); and Ukraine (Yaremenko et al., 2004).
Groves, A., S. Maman, S. Msomi, N. Makhanya and D. Moodley. 2009. “The Complexity of Consent: Women’s Experiences Testing for HIV at an Antenatal Clinic in Durban, South Africa.” AIDS Care pp. 1-7.