Table 3 HIV testing issues
From: Evaluation of the HIV lay counselling and testing profession in South Africa
Category of issues | Specific issues |
|---|---|
Health systems issues | - Frequent stock outs of test kits affecting clients participation |
- Lack of working space for counsellors and testers | |
- Lack of some important work materials e.g. stopwatches | |
Testing guidelines and sensitivity of test kits | - Low sensitivity of the G-ocean brand |
- High usage of ELISA due to mistrust of rapid tests | |
- Constant changes in test kits | |
- Current test kits are not easy to recognise if there is little buffer or blood | |
- Often different results between screening and confirmatory tests | |
Low incentives/ lack of recognition/ workload | - Low salary compared to tasks |
- Delays in salaries | |
- Not considered as part of health facility staff | |
- Lack of re-training for counsellors and testers | |
- Extra work in the facility due to HCT but limited staff | |
- HCT too demanding and stressful, need more staff | |
- Emotional stress of counsellors and testers , thus need counselling and psychological support themselves | |
Stigma/fear/denial of HIV testing | - Fear of staff members to test in the facility where they work |
- Difficulties of testing oneself | |
- Difficulties of testing couples especially in relational issues | |
- Many men in denial of their results | |
- Positive youths react negatively after receiving results | |
- Difficult to maintain confidentiality in small communities |