Analysis on Needs for Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing among High Risk Populations in Lanzhou,Anshan and Jilin City,2009

[Objective]To explore needs of voluntary HIV counseling and testing(VCT) among high risk populations,including female sex workers(FSW),men who have sex with men(MSM),and migrant workers,so as to provide basis for VCT service by government and the program.[Methods]A cross-sectional study was conducted in June and July,2009.FSW,MSM and migrant workers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.And VCT clients were also interviewed before leaving clinics.[Results]Totally 332 persons with high risk were interviewed.For location of VCT serv-ices,76.81% would take HIV testing in CDC,74.70% would take HIV testing in a place where nobody knew him(her).For time of VCT services,33.43% preferred to take VCT in weekdays,42.47% did not care about it;40.96% would like to take VCT during daytime,whereas 43.07% thought it did not matter.The most important thing that high risk populations were concerned with was confidentiality(69.28%).Regarding way of getting test results,49.70% would ask by themselves and 27.71% wanted to be informed by phone.'Fearing of being seen by acquaintance'(28.01%),'Fearing of being labeled as AIDS patients'(28.01%),'Fearing of being discriminated if HIV positive'(27.71%)were top three barriers toward VCT.'Confidential VCT'(43.07%),'Less discrimination on AIDS'(32.23%),'Improving the knowledge level of HIV'(25.60%) were top three facilitators of VCT.Of 83 VCT clients,89.16%,87.95%,and 87.95% were very satisfied with counselors' service quality,knowledge and competence,and confidentiality,respectively.[Conclusion]CDC is the most favorable place for high risk population to take VCT services.It is very important to keep confidential when providing VCT service.VCT clients are satisfied with current VCT services.