Abstract:
Introduction: HIV testing and counseling (HTC), long recognized as a critical component of a
comprehensive HIV program, is the entry point for accessing needed HIV prevention, treatment
and care, and support services. Provider-initiated testing and counseling is seen as one of several
potential components in an overall strategy to increase uptake of HIV testing and counseling.
Objective: To assess uptake of Provider Initiated HIV testing and Counseling and its associated
factors among OPD clients in Pawie Hospital, Benishangul Gumuz, North West, Ethiopia
Methods: Facility based cross sectional study was conducted among OPD clients of Pawie
Hospital from January 30 to February 25, 2012. With sample size of 424 .Using systematic
random sampling method every other client of OPD exit interview was conducted. Data was
collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire on OPD clients & to supplement, in-depth
interview was conducted on service providers. The questionnaire addresses the patients’
willingness, acceptability of PITC, socio-demographic, knowledge on HIV/AIDS&PITC and
perceived risk on HIV/AIDS. To describe the characteristics of the study population, percentage
was calculated. Bi-variate and multivariate logistic regression was applied to examine the
relationship. A p-value of less than 5% was used to declare association between factors and the
dependent variable. For the qualitative part, thematic analysis was used.
Result: Among the total participants, 16.8% had poor knowledge about means of HIV
transmission, and only 13 (4.5%) were knowledgeable about all of the ABCs of HIV prevention
methods. There was also low (39.7%) self risk perception for HIV infection. However, the
overall uptake of PITC is 80.7%. On a multivariate logistic regression analysis, those who can
read /write were two point five times more likely to not accept PITC than those illiterates [AOR
(95% CI) =2.47(1.08,7.09)].Those who had not perceiving risk of acquiring HIV were 2.16 times
more likely to not accept PITC than those who had perceiving risk [AOR (95% CI)
=2.16(1.28,5.44)]. And individual who had never tested HIV before were 8.2 times more likely
to not accept PITC than those who had ever been tested [AOR (95% CI) =8.19(4.55, 14.61)].
Conclusion: In this study the client’s knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention methods is
low. Larger segment of clients lacks self perceived risk of HIV infection. However there was
relatively high up take for PITC by clients. Therefore, to improve knowledge on HIV means of
transmission, prevention and scale up PITC uptake, IEC/BCC to the public is recommended.
Key Words: PITC, Uptake, HIV, OPD, Pawie.
