Promoting VCT in Uganda

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Promoting VCT in Uganda

• The Take Control of Your Life Campaign

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Why Promote VCT?

• Highly effective at changing sexual behavior
• Discordance as high as 20 of couples tested
• Inexpensive drugs for reducing MCT have become
  available
• Linking children of infected mothers with social
  support before they become orphans

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The Situation 1998

• 30 rural health units offered same day testing
  and counseling
• Despite expressed desire for VCT, services
  underutilized

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Reasons for Under-utilization

• Health workers rarely referred clients
• Widespread misconceptions
• Fear of learning ones results
• Many people unaware of the services

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Take Control of Your Life Campaign

• Primary audience Men
• Key messages
• test with partner
• test before marriage and pregnancy
• test if you are worried
• correct information about VCT/locations of
  services

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Materials and Activities

• Posters, radio, Health Matters
• Lets Face It video
• Market rallies

• Launching ceremonies
• Soccer matches and bike rallies
• VCT services offered during events

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Campaign Results
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Lesson 1

• Where there is little support and no
  antiretrovirals to offer, the perceived
  disadvantages often outweigh the perceived
  advantages of knowing ones sero-status.
• Recommendation VCT should include post-test
  services even if only counseling and information

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Lesson 2

• Where benefits seem small and costs high, bring
  services closer to clients

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Bringing Services to Clients

• Static services increase in-house referrals
• Outreach services response is good even for a
  price
• Expand availability and affordability of VCT
  services to more facilities with new technologies

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Lesson 3

• VCT must be seen as part of essential health care
  package if it is to become reliably available
• Recommendation train all health providers to
  refer clients for VCT when finger prick tests
  approved, train all providers to offer VCT add
  testing kits to essential supplies