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Repeat Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (VCT), Sexual Risk Behavior and HIV Incidence in Rakai, Uganda

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Abstract

We examined the effects of repeat Voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) on sexual risk behaviors and HIV incidence in 6,377 initially HIV-negative subjects enrolled in a prospective STD control for HIV prevention trial in rural Rakai district, southwestern Uganda. Sixty-four percent accepted VCT, and of these, 62.2% were first time acceptors while 37.8% were repeat acceptors. Consistent condom use was 5.8% in repeat acceptors, 6.1% in first time acceptors and 5.1% in non-acceptors. A higher proportion of repeat acceptors (15.9%) reported inconsistent condom use compared to first-time acceptors (12%) and non-acceptors (11.7%). Also, a higher proportion of repeat acceptors (18.1%) reported 2+ sexual partners compared to first-time acceptors (14.1%) and non-acceptors (15%). HIV incidence rates were 1.4/100 py (person-years) in repeat acceptors, 1.6/100 py in first time acceptors and 1.6/100 py in non-acceptors. These data suggest a need for intensive risk-reduction counseling interventions targeting HIV-negative repeat VCT acceptors as a special risk group.

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Acknowledgment

The study was supported by grants RO1 A134826 and RO1 A13426S from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; grant 5P30HD06826 from the National Institute of Child Health and Development; the World Bank STI Project, Uganda; the Glaxo Wellcome Foundation, and the Winkler Foundation. We are grateful to Dr SK Sempala [RIP] (Former Director, Uganda Virus Research Institute) for his support. Part of this paper was presented at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, on November 28, 2003.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rakai Health Sciences Program/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda

    Joseph K. B. Matovu, Noah Kiwanuka, Godfrey Kigozi & Fred Nalugoda

  2. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Room 4547 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Ronald H. Gray

  3. Institute of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

    Fred Wabwire-Mangen & David Serwadda

  4. Makerere Medical School, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

    Nelson K. Sewankambo

  5. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Maria J. Wawer

Authors
  1. Joseph K. B. Matovu
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  2. Ronald H. Gray
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  3. Noah Kiwanuka
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  4. Godfrey Kigozi
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  5. Fred Wabwire-Mangen
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  6. Fred Nalugoda
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  7. David Serwadda
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  8. Nelson K. Sewankambo
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  9. Maria J. Wawer
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Correspondence to Ronald H. Gray.

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Matovu, J.K.B., Gray, R.H., Kiwanuka, N. et al. Repeat Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (VCT), Sexual Risk Behavior and HIV Incidence in Rakai, Uganda. AIDS Behav 11, 71–78 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9170-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9170-y

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