Role of the private health sector in HIV counseling and testing in Ethiopia

Background: Private for-profit health facilities in Ethiopia are flourishing and contributing to improved access to health care in almost all urban areas of the country. The Private Health Sector Program (PHSP), a USAID-funded program implemented by Abt Associates, is working with the Federal Ministry of Health in Ethiopia to integrate and expand clinical services in TB, HIV/AIDS, FP and STIs in the private health sector. Integrated with all these activities is HIV counseling and testing (HCT), a critical and essential component of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support programs in Ethiopia. Methodology: A quantitative study was conducted with quarterly reported data from 133 PHSP-supported private health facilities between October 2009 and December 2010. Simple descriptive statistical analyses were performed using EPI-Info 3.3.2. Results: Since October 2009, PHSP has operated in 33 towns in Ethiopia to build capacity in 133 private and workplace facilities to render provider initiated testing and counseling (PITC) and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services for HIV. Between October 2009 and December 2010, a total of 165,962 clients were tested for HIV in these facilities; 54.4% (90,412) were females and 9,834 (5.9%) tested positive. All clients that tested positive were referred for anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Conclusion: HCT services in private facilities are effective as an entry point for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support programs in Ethiopia. Expansion of not only HCT, but also ART services to all private facilities should be pursued to provide clients with more comprehensive, effective, and efficient HIV services.