Attitude of Counsellors towards undergoing HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing in Ado-Odo/Ota, Nigeria
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This study was an investigation into the attitude of counsellors who offer HIV pre and post counselling.
Sixteen counsellors who offer HIV pre-post-test counselling were identified from the preliminary field
work, of these, 9 counsellors who reported they had not presented for HIV/AIDS testing were identified
and 7 eventually participated in the study. The participants were active counsellors, 27 through 46 years
of age, who provided HIV pre-post-test counselling services. A purposive sampling technique was
employed to select the participants. The non-scheduled structured interview was employed for data
collection while the cross case method was used to analyze the data. The study found that the
participants possessed negative attitude towards undergoing voluntary HIV/AIDS testing though they
acknowledged the importance of HIV/AIDS test. The participants identified fear of being HIV/AIDS
positive, lack of confidentiality and knowledge of HIV/AIDS as barriers to their undergoing HIV/AIDS
test. Being counselled by a professional counsellor/ psychologist or someone living with HIV/AIDS,
feeling too sick or being pregnant were highlighted as factors that may facilitate their undergoing
HIV/AIDS test. It was also found that HIV/AIDS counsellors are as vulnerable to HIV/AIDS as the general
population. Counsellors who by their training or job schedule encourage others to undergo HIV test
were themselves unwilling to test for HIV. In conclusion, counsellors are advised to undergo voluntary
HIV/AIDS test.
Key words: HIV/AIDS counsellors, attitude, HIV/AIDS VCT, interview, confidentiality.
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BF Psychology