Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #103216

Tuduetso Colleen Molemogi, MSc, District AIDS Coordinator, District Administration, Box 60, Selebi Phikwe, Botswana and Yumiko M. Texidor, BA, MPH, United States Peace Corps Volunteer, Office of District AIDS Coordinator, Box 60, Selebi Phikwe, Botswana, +267 2610418, ytexidor@hotmail.com.

Selebi-Phikwe, Botswana, having an HIV/AIDS prevalence of 52.2%, held a huge World AIDS Day (WAD) Commemoration event where 350 people were tested for HIV in six hours. This high turnout prompted us to investigate people's perceptions towards HIV testing and whether public events influence decisions to test.

Description: Qualitative interviews were given at a WAD Commemoration in a small village located in the surrounding high HIV-prevalent (48%) sub-district of Bobirwa, which shares common socioeconomic characteristics with Selebi-Phikwe. Some of the questions asked were clients' feelings toward testing in a public event and the importance of testing and confidentiality. Out of the 39 clients tested, 24 females and five males (n=29), ranging from 23-58 years old were interviewed.

Lessons learned: Virtually all clients favorably viewed testing in the event and agreed that HIV testing was important while 62% of interviewees deemed confidentiality unimportant. However, some clients who previously tested positive and on ARVs underwent testing to see if the ARVs were "working", therefore, become HIV-. This trend was also reported in Selebi-Phikwe.

Recommendations: The evidence suggests that testing booths be placed in other public events in the district and nationally to further investigate why people choose to test in public events and to identify barriers to testing. Also, many people view ARVs as “cures” despite current massive health education informing otherwise. The community's comprehension of HIV/AIDS must be analyzed in order to modify current health education in understandable terms for the community.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand people's perceptions toward HIV/AIDS, testing and treatment.
• Identify barriers to testing.
• List advantages and disadvantages to testing at a public event vs. mainstream testing sites (clinics, hospitals, VTC).
• Identify necessary changes in HIV/AIDS education for the district.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, International Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.