BMC Research Notes
Volume 11, Issue 1, 2018

Socio-demographic characteristics and the utilization of HIV testing and counselling services among the key populations at the Bhutanese Refugees Camps in Eastern Nepal (Article) (Open Access)

Khatoon S. , Budhathoki S.S.* , Bam K. , Thapa R. , Bhatt L.P. , Basnet B. , Jha N.
  • a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sub-Office, Damak, Nepal
  • b School of Public Health and Community Medicine, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
  • c Local Action for Global Health and Environment (LAGHE)-Nepal, Dhangadhi 5, Kailali, Nepal
  • d AMDA Nepal Primary Health Care Project for Bhutanese Refugees, Damak, Nepal
  • e Association of Medical Doctors of Asia-HIV/AIDS for Migrants (AMDA-HAMI), Kathmandu, Nepal
  • f Birat Health College and Research Center, Biratnagar, Nepal
  • g School of Public Health and Community Medicine, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal

Abstract

Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, assess the utilization of HIV testing and counselling services, and to explore the reasons for the non-utilization of HIV testing and counselling services among the key populations at the Bhutanese refugee camps in eastern Nepal. Results: The HIV testing and counselling services are utilized by less than a third (29%) of the key population among the Bhutanese Refugees. The prime source of information about the HIV testing and counselling sites has been health workers followed by peer/outreach educators and neighbors. Common self-reported barriers for utilization of HIV testing and counselling services by the Bhutanese refugees were self-perceived stigma about HIV, the fear of being discriminated and the lack of knowledge about HIV testing and counselling services. There is a need to analyze the gap between availability and utilization through more qualitative approaches in order to identify interventions to increase the uptake of the HIV testing and counselling services. © 2018 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

HIV testing and counselling Utilization of HIV testing and counselling services Bhutanese refugees Refugees in Nepal

Index Keywords

male counseling female Humans HIV Infections refugee Nepal Human immunodeficiency virus infection ethnology cross-sectional study Bhutan demography Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult human adult Refugees
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85051264240&doi=10.1186%2fs13104-018-3657-2&partnerID=40&md5=4e69ace4396641e0440c1e5c3c1a3671
DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3657-2
ISSN: 17560500
Original Language: English