Household Decision Making And Voluntary Counseling And Testing Among Women Anttending Antenatal Clinic In Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background: The study is household decision making and voluntary counseling and testing

among women attending antenatal clinic in Nigeria was conducted using data from 20 I 3 Nigeria

Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Voluntary counseling and testing is one of the best

interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, but despite the proven benefits of

VCT. The uptake ofVCT in Nigeria still remains low.

Objective: The study is to ascertain the prevalence of voluntary counseling and testing, the

perception of women on voluntary counseling and testing, and how household decision influence

voluntary counseling and testing among women attending antenatal clinic in Nigeria.

Methods: The study was a cross sectional and descriptive study with both quantitative and

qualitative component. The study involved women age 15-49 that are married and living

together with their partner.

Results: In the quantitative result, women that are educated, wealthy, and working are more

likely to receive voluntary counseling and testing. Women who decide alone on their health arc

more likely to receive voluntary counseling and testing than women who decide together with

their partner. In the qualitative data, it was found out that fear was the main factor that can

reduce the uptake of voluntary counseling and testing.

Conclusion: It is recommended that involvement of male partner should be part in voluntary

counseling and testing process to reduce the fear of get tested.