Abstract:
Background
Voluntary Counseling and Testing is one of the key strategies in HIV/AIDS prevention
and control in Ethiopia and link infected people to care and support. This intervention is
a process evaluation of the voluntary counseling and testing program at Jimma and
Higher-2 health centers, both of which are situated in Jimma city, Jimma Zone located in
the Oromia region of Ethiopia. The objective of this evaluation is to assess the process of
voluntary counseling and testing services.
Method
This evaluation applied multiple case study design using both qualitative and quantitative
methods. The focus of evaluation is process and approach is formative. Compliance,
Availability, and Acceptability were the dimensions used to measure the implementation
of voluntary counseling and testing services. Data were collected through In-depth and
client exit interviews, direct observation, and document review. A World Health
Organization adopted checklist was used. Qualitative data was analyzed manually, and
Quantitative data were entered using EPI-Data and later exported to SPSS-16 for
analysis.
Results
Result from the observation of counseling sessions saw an average of 79.3% (good)
and 68% (fair) at Higher-2 and Jimma respectively. Clients‟ perception of service
provided is generally good. The overall performance of VCT services score an
average of 74.6% and 75.6% for Jimma and Higher-2 health center respectively,
which means GOOD according to our parameter of judgment
Conclusion
The Zonal Health Office Authorities need to redesign the counseling and testing room
to meet the minimum required standard enshrined within the HIV counseling and
testing guideline of Ethiopia, so that confidentiality and privacy for clients can be
ensure, and appoint a laboratory technician to supervise for the VCT program.
