Abstract:

VCT is defined as voluntary counseling and testing on HIV. The program established in order to determine the HIV status of an individual, provide attention on HIV and services for those who were tested positive. Objective of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of VCT among people who attended at Nyamoro health centre in Rorya. The study was cross sectional study of 236 participants.

Result: 100% of all participants heard on HIV/AIDS and among them, 98% knew that viruses are the major causative agent, 1.98% they don’t knew what cause HIV even though they knew about HIV. 100% of all male participants and 98.2% female participants mention HIV viruses with total of 99.2% of all participants. With education level participant with no education showed less knowledge on causative agent of HIV/AIDS (only 95.35% knew) compared to other group. Way on HIV/AIDS transmission. Participants with no education showed to knew much on only one route of sexual contact than other route. Gender of participants doesn’t influence on knowledge of HIV/AIDS.

Knowledge on VCT: Most of young participants mentions correct the meaning of VCT, 64.22% of age 18-20 years, and lowest 0.7% of age more than 57 years. The overall, 58.3% of all participants mention correct the meaning of VCT. Aids campaign account for the most used media to spread the knowledge of VCT among the participants. Majority of participants herd VCT in more than one media with total of 96.88% and only 3.11% they didn’t herd on VCT at all. On services offered by VCT with age, majority of participants of 21-44 years mention correct counseling and testing (63.63%) followed by 18-20 years (61.87%) and 44-56 years (50%) and least group of more than 57 years only 46.66% mention exactly services offered by VCT education knowledge of VCT and its services increases with education level, gender of the participants show no effect on VCT knowledge.

Attitude and practice on VCT: With age group of 18-20 years show high tendency of attending VCT compare to other age group. Total of 47.08% of all participants attend VCT at least once, 52.92% they didn’t attend Young participants (18-20 years) showed more tendencies on attending VCT. For those who didn’t attend VCT the common reason were afraid, they don’t like but above 57 years were felt ashamed. Age and peer group show influence on participant’s attendance to VCT. Most participants shows their negativity on VCT attendance, many seem were afraid and confidentiality hinder their participation. Majority likes to have VCT at their area, and for those who reject the VCT program the most reason was confidentiality, rare were afraid, and small portion were felt ashamed so they think there was no reason to have VCT at their area.