HealthMED
Volume 5, Issue 4, 2011, Pages 774-781

Rapid assessment of community awareness, attitude and acceptance about voluntary HIV counseling and testing for rural-to-urban migrants in Shanghai, China (Article)

Zhang T. , He N.* , Ma F. , Yao J. , Tian X. , Yang Y. , Wang Y. , Ding Y. , Jiang Q. , Detels R.
  • a Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, The Key Laboratory for Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, China
  • b Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, The Key Laboratory for Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, China
  • c Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, The Key Laboratory for Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, China
  • d Minghang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
  • e Minghang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
  • f Minghang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
  • g Minghang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
  • h Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, The Key Laboratory for Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, China, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
  • i Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, The Key Laboratory for Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, China
  • j Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, United States

Abstract

Objectives: To quickly understand rural-to-urban migrants knowledge and acceptance of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV/ AIDS and community attitudes to providing VCT service to migrants in Shanghai, China. Study design: A rapid assessment consisting of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was conducted. Methods: A total of 101 in-depth individual interviews and four focus group discussions were administered in 2008. The interviews were au-diotaped or taken note and then transcribed. Collected data were analysed according four impact domains on VCT uptake among rural-to-urban migrants: knowledge of HIV/AIDS and VCT (Impact domain I), self-perceived risk of HIV infection (Impact domain II), accessibility and confidential of VCT service (Impact domain III), and social environment (Impact domain IV). Results: Current barriers to getting VCT among rural-to-urban migrants included misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, limited to no knowledge about VCT, extremely low self-perception of HIV risks, limited accessibility of VCT service for rural migrants, worrying about disclosure of HIV infection status, and community leaders' or stakeholders' negative attitudes to rural migrants living with HIV and even those attending VCT. Conclusions: It indicates that much greater effort is needed to remove barriers to accessing VCT for rural-to-urban migrants. Community mobilizations, mass media programs to improve HIV/AIDS and VCT knowledge and awareness, and anti-stigma associated with taking VCT or HIV infection are among the priorities.

Author Keywords

Rapid assessment VCT Rural-to-urban migrants HIV Community

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80052577983&partnerID=40&md5=ad99cca725703d6b3b4af8f894976b31
ISSN: 18402291
Original Language: English