Requirement of voluntary counseling and testing for HIV among high risk populations in Anshan

Objective To understand the requirement in voluntary counseling and testing for HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) among high risk populations in Anshan municipality, Liaoning province. Methods The face to face interview was conducted among 321 people with high risk behaviors by using structured questionnaire in August 2009, these people were female sex workers, men who have sex with men and migrant workers. Results The people surveyed would like to take VCT at disease control center or VCT clinic (where no one knew them) in daytime. Most of them would like to be informed of testing result directly. Fear of being seen by acquaintance, fear of discrimination to HIV infected people and being afraid of the revealing by doctor. Were major obstacles to VCT., but no revealing of testing result, improving the awareness of HIV infection and good VCT service were the major promoting factors to VCT. Conclusion Different high risk population has different requirement for VCT. It is important to strengthen the health education about VCT, reduce discrimination to HIV infected people and keep the testing result in secret to meet their requirements. This study was Supported by the Application Research Project for AIDS in China by the 5th Round Global Fund, 2008 (No. CHN-506-G06-H)