"It's Better Not to Know": Perceived Barriers to HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing among Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Belgium

Autor/inn/en	Manirankunda, Lazare; Loos, Jasna; Alou, Therese Assebide; Colebunders, Robert; Nostlinger, Christiana
Titel	"It's Better Not to Know": Perceived Barriers to HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing among Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Belgium
Quelle	In: AIDS Education and Prevention, 21 (2009) 6, S.582-593 (12 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0899-9546
DOI	10.1521/aeap.2009.21.6.582
Schlagwörter	Test Results; Health Promotion; Focus Groups; Testing; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Health Behavior; Foreign Countries; Immigrants; Counseling; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS); Qualitative Research; Fear; Prevention; Refugees; Risk; Intervention; Consciousness Raising; Cultural Awareness; Health Education; Africa; Belgium + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Gesundheitsfürsorge; Gesundheitshilfe; Reihenuntersuchung; Testdurchführung; Testen; Sexual transmitted disease; Geschlechtskrankheit; Health behaviour; Gesundheitsverhalten; Ausland; Immigrant; Immigrantin; Immigranten; Counselling; Beratung; Qualitative Forschung; Furcht; Prävention; Vorbeugung; Flüchtling; Risiko; Bewusstseinsbildung; Cultural identity; Kulturelle Identität; Gesundheitsaufklärung; Gesundheitsbildung; Gesundheitserziehung; Afrika; Belgien
Abstract	This study explored perceptions, needs, and barriers of sub-Saharan African migrants in relation to HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). Using an inductive qualitative methodological approach, data were obtained from focus group discussions. Results showed that participants were in principle in favor of VCT. However, they indicated that barriers outweighed advantages. Such barriers included fear of positive test results and its related personal and social consequences, lack of information, lack of preventive health behavior, denial of HIV risk, and missed opportunities. Limited financial resources were only a concern for some subgroups like young people, asylum seekers, and recent migrants. This study identified multiple and intertwined barriers to VCT from a community perspective. In order to promote VCT, interventions such as raising awareness through culturally sensitive education should be adopted at community level. At level of service provision, provider initiated HIV testing including target group tailored counseling should be promoted. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10