Acta Scientific MEDICAL SCIENCES (ISSN: 2582-0931)
Volume 6 Issue 3 March 2022
Quality of HIV Counselling Services Offered in Public Health
Facilities in Kampala, Uganda
Victo Kyobutungi
1
*, Anthony Ssebagereka
1
, Christine T Begumisa
1
,
Christine Muhumuza
1
and Joseph KB Matovu
2
1
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University College of
Health Sciences, School of Public Health, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
2
Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University
College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
*Corresponding Author: Victo Kyobutungi, Department of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public
Health, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Research Article
Received: December 22, 2021
Published: February 25, 2022
© All rights are reserved by Victo
Kyobutungi., et al.
Abstract
Background: HIV counselling is increasingly available in public health facilities in Uganda. Counselling is an entry point into care,
treatment and support services of many HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Quality of HCT services have significant role on prognosis
of HIV patients. This study assessed the quality of HIV counselling services offered in public health facilities in Kampala by review-
ing adherence to the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) policy guidelines, content of counselling information offered to clients and
health facility amenities.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 utilizing quantitative methods of data collection. Quality of HIV coun-
seling was defined in accordance with adherence to the HCT guidelines, offering ‘good’ content of counselling information and health
facilities having adequate amenities. We used principal component analysis to obtain and reveal current composite scores of the
variables. Data were summarized into frequencies and proportions using STATA, version 13.0. Scores below 70% were considered
as ‘poor’ quality.
Results: In this study, 74 health workers offering HIV counselling services at five public health facilities were interviewed. The study
revealed that quality of HIV counselling at the five public health facilities was ‘poor’ as 74% of the health workers offered ‘poor’ qual-
ity HIV counselling and only one out of five health facilities was found to have adequate amenities. Majority (74.3%) of the health
workers were found not to adhere to HCT guidelines. In addition, 67.6% of the health workers offered ‘poor’ content of counseling
information.
Conclusion: Overall quality of HIV counselling was found to be poor. Improvements should be focused on mentorship programs for
all health workers involved in HIV counselling. Provision of modest space for counselling is also required so as to ensure privacy dur-
ing counselling sessions.
Keywords: HCT: HIV Counselling and Testing; PCA: Principal Component Analysis
Citation: Victo Kyobutungi., et al. “Quality of HIV Counselling Services Offered in Public Health Facilities in Kampala, Uganda". Acta Scientific Medical
Sciences 6.3 (2022): 123-131.