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Factors Influencing HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (Vct) Among Pregnant Women in Kassala, Eastern Sudan

Abdel Aziem Abd Allah Ali and Eman Osman

Aiming to investigate the quantitative acceptance rate and factors affecting HIV_ Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) all pregnant women attended for antenatal care in Kassala hospital, eastern Sudan, during 1st March 2014 – 31st May 2014 were interviewed. Although 962 of 1017 interviewed women agreed to do the test initially only 400 (39.3%) women had done the test. The total women who were not tested (617) reported that ignorance of the effect and knowledge of HIV, stigmatization and inadequate motivation are the main factors lying behind their nonacceptance for HIV testing. There were significant association between rural residence (CI= 0.4 – 0.7, OR= 0.5, P= 0.000), women’s education (CI= 1.0 – 1.4, OR= 1.2, P= 0.006), husband’s education (CI= 0.2 – 0.5, OR= 0.3, P= 0.000) and the acceptance of the test. Thus our findings call for urgent effort from stakeholders to collaborate in order to remove obstacles in the acceptance of HIV_VCT. This can be done through awareness and motivation especially in the rural areas. There is also strong need to expand HIV_VCT services in rural areas and urgent consideration of the educational status among the community.