social context of disclosing hiv test results: hiv testing in tanzania

The counsellor told me that different people have different types of HIV
viruses and therefore even couples who are both HIV positive are advised
to practice safe sex. If they continue to practice unsafe sex, the chances
are higher for them to acquire new infections. Therefore, he advised me to
practice safer sex, such as by using the “Salama” condom in order to
prevent new infection.
The overall findings show that 88 percent of respondents who had just taken an
HIV test indicated that they were satisfied with VCT. About 90 percent of respondents
who were living with AIDS indicated that they were satisfied with services offered by
VCT centres and benefited from the counselling they received. This situation may be
explained by the fact that those living with AIDS had received counselling a long time
before, and were therefore now able to see and appreciate the changes that were taking
place, as had been predicted by the counsellors. In contrast, these changes were not yet
perceptible to those people who had just been tested. Although the data show that 45
percent of those living with HIV/AIDS had accepted their positive serostatus and 43
percent were living normally, figures for the other group—i.e. those recently tested—
were only 15 percent and 17 percent, respectively, an indication that those who had just
taken an HIV test were still contemplating the outcome of their HIV test and were having
a difficult time believing that they are positive. Those who were satisfied with the
services offered by VCT centres stated that counselling sessions helped them to accept
their positive results, adopt safer sexual practices, and live normally with HIV/AIDS.
The respondents who were interviewed for the second time were asked questions
about their sexual life. Such questions included whether they participated in sexual
relations, and if so, whether these sexual relations were safe or not. They were also asked
whether they had multiple sexual partners or if they had reduced the numbers. The people
living with HIV/AIDS indicated that they were being supported and not stigmatized by
their relatives and others. Likewise, 47 percent of people recently tested stated that they
were also supported and not stigmatized by their relatives and others. Only 3.5 percent of
people living with AIDS and 2 percent of people recently tested stated they have
experienced stigma.
One-quarter of the people recently tested indicated they have stopped having sex.
These were mainly widows and widowers. Another 14 percent indicated they have either
reduced sex partners or were practicing safe sex.
Most of the people living with HIV/AIDS stated that the counsellors are the ones
who advised or referred them to clinics that provide care and treatment services for
people with HIV. To them, one of the most important benefits of testing and getting
counselled was the improved access to antiretroviral therapy. The findings of this study
show that of the 57 PLWHAs, 39 (68 percent) were using ARVs and other medications
that treated opportunistic infections related to HIV/AIDS. Discussions with those not on
ARVs indicated that they were in good health or their CD4 count was in the range that
does not require them to be put on ARVs.
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