#PS4/04
Impact of PreTest Counseling Sessions on Increasing Knowledge About HIV
and Hepatitis Among the Beneficiaries of a Free of Charge, Voluntary
Counseling and Testing Program (VCT) in Constanta, Romania
Overview
Baylor Romania delivers services for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C in Dobrogea region: prevention, treatment and care
Program results (n= 55k)
Objectives
To identify the utility of the pre-test counseling sessions in increasing the level of knowledge regarding HIV and viral hepatitis B
and hepatitis C for the clients attending a free of charge VCT program.
To check if the content of the pre-test counselling session is relevant for the group served in the community where the VCT
program is unfolded.
Methods
After the blood sample is collected, during the break, clients were asked to assess the impact of the pre-test session regarding the
knowledge they gained
A standardized content of pre-test counseling
was defined and counselors were trained
regarding the correct delivery of the
information during the session. Clients that
attended the VCT program since September
2015 to August 2016 have been asked to fill
a questionnaire after the pre-test counseling
session, regarding how much the clients
themselves assess that their level of knowledge
regarding HIV and viral hepatitis has increased
as a result of the information presented by the
counselor. A 6 point interval scale was used for the answer (0% increase, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%). Data was analyzed in
order to identify increase was estimated by clients, as well as if there was any higher gain between the 2 components (HIV and
hepatitis).
Results
N = 3065 persons (52% of those tested)
average age of respondents 45
59% women
64% with urban residence
previously tested for HIV = 4%, HBV= 2%, HCV= 1%
Clients tested by mobile unit did not fill the questionnaire due to lack of time.
5895 clients tested; 2572 had high exposure risk (i.e 44% of all tested had high risk in antecedents).
Overall there is a high level of subjective estimated gain in knowledge about the 3 infections.
Conclusion
Authors
AM Schweitzer,
M Bogdan,
G Ivanov
In our community, people that attend VCT are more knowledgeable about HIV than about viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis pre-test counseling is not compulsory by law, but our data shows the information about prevention, transmission and
vaccination of infectious diseases is relevant.