Factors contributing to the voluntary counseling and HIV testing for persons at risk of HIV infection in Thailand

Abstract

Thailand has a policy to support access to voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) for all its citizens.  Thais are eligible for two free VCT sessions per year and this has increased clinic uptake, but the total is still well below the target coverage (10% testing for the general population and 90% for the higher-risk populations). The objective of this research was to study the factors which enabled persons at risk of HIV to obtain VCT in Thailand. This research was a cross-sectional study and used questionnaires to ask respondents about risk behavior, self-risk assessment, benefits coverage, measures and service system, attitudes toward VCT, self-stigma, prejudice toward others, and experience of discrimination.  Data were collected during May to July 2013 in eight, purposively-selected provinces which are the part of the focus area for the 2012-16 National AIDS Program Plan (NAP). The method for selecting respondents used time-location quota sampling to achieve a total sample of 751 persons. This study found that proportion who had VCT in the year prior to the survey was 56%.   The significant enabling factors associated with VCT were having someone encourage them to go for testing and receiving information about VCT.  In addition, other significant factors for FSW were self-assessed risk for HIV and having had risk behavior. Other significant factors for MSM were awareness of eligibility for VCT and age 24 years or older. Thus, in order to achieve the VCT target for higher-risk populations by 2016, there should be special mechanisms to inform the different groups about the VCT service and motivation to go for VCT, along with improvements in outreach services to make VCT more convenient for Key affected populations include an annual health check.