VCT, or voluntary counseling
and testing, refers to the process of giving people professional
counseling before and after the HIV test. The process helps
people prepare for and understand their test results. Those
who test negative can learn ways to avoid becoming infected,
and those who are positive can learn how to live longer, healthier
lives and prevent transmission to others. In this way, VCT
offers an important entry point to early prevention, care,
and support.
The materials on this page are intended for a variety of
audiences, especially those who are involved in the set-up
and provision of VCT services. However, those who want to
know more about VCT will also find helpful information here.
Basic VCT Information
BCC/IEC Materials
Case Studies
Counseling Information
Guidelines
Scientific Study Results, Conference Proceedings,
& Commentary
Program Management Tools
Brochures and posters the ARC has recently
produced to promote VCT
VCT Centers in Oromia
Basic VCT Information
Introduction to Counseling and Voluntary Counseling
and Testing [best practice summary]
Published by: UNAIDS
Basic outline of counseling and main VCT principles, followed
by best practices from international experiences.
http://www.unaids.org/bestpractice/collection/subject/health/cvc.html
Testing and Counseling [fact sheet]
Published by: World Health Organization
WHO’s basic overview to HIV/AIDS testing and counseling,
including a definition, rationale, procedures, human resource
and infrastructure demands, and costing information.
http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/vct/testing/en/
Voluntary Counseling and Testing [report]
Published by: UNAIDS
This technical update is a fairly thorough examination of
most of the issues, challenges and solutions related to VCT.
Click here
to download (pdf format  )
Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV
[fact sheet]
Published by: Family Health International
(FHI)
Presents rationale for VCT and lessons learned from multi-country
implementation of VCT services.
http://www.fhi.org/en/aids/impact/briefs/vctgeneral.html
The Impact of Voluntary Counseling and Testing: A
Global Review of the Benefits and Challenges [report]
Published by: UNAIDS
This fairly technical review of VCT by UNAIDS addresses strategies
and applications for specific population sub-groups, as well
as potential events at each stage of the VCT process. Incorporates
a fairly extensive scientific literature review on VCT efficacy
and outcomes.
Click here to
download (pdf format )
BCC/IEC Materials
Get the
Advantage of Knowing (Efoy!) - Women [poster]
Get the Advantage
of Knowing (Efoy!) - Men [poster]
Produced by: AIDS Resource Center, Ethiopia
This poster series encourages young Ethiopian men and women
ages 18-35 to get tested for HIV. The women’s poster
says, “Ye HIV/AIDS mirmera madrege lenneam lelejem tekemegn.”
(I, and any children I might have, have benefited from my
being tested for HIV/AIDS. Phew!) The men’s poster says,
“Ye HIV/AIDS mirmera madrege tekemegn.” (I’ve
benefited from being tested for HIV/AIDS. Phew!) Amharic language.
(courtesy of the AIDS Resource Center)
Case Studies
HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing: a Gateway to
Prevention and Care [case studies]
Published by: UNAIDS
Presents five case studies relating VCT to prevention of mother-to-child
transmission, tuberculosis treatment entry points, youth,
and general populations.
Click here to
download (pdf format )
Knowledge is Power: Voluntary Counseling and Testing
in Uganda [report]
Published by: UNAIDS
Profiles the AIDS Information Center, an organization providing
counseling and testing in Uganda.
Click
here to download (pdf format )
Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and Young
People: A Summary Overview [report]
Published by: Family Health International
(FHI)
This extensive report presents case studies and recommendations
for providing adolescent-friendly VCT services.
Click
here to download (pdf format )
Counseling Information
A Guide to HIV/AIDS Pastoral Counseling
[handbook]
Published by: World Council of Churches
People living and dying with AIDS have spiritual and emotional
as well as medical needs. They are looking for pastoral counseling,
consolation and acceptance. In some places, pastors and churches
are the nearest or only resources available in times of crisis
and need. This handbook for pastors and spiritual caregivers
is intended for international use; it is not available online
but can be ordered from this website.
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/mission/guide.html
Guidelines
Opening Up the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Guidance On Encouraging
Beneficial Disclosure, Ethical Partner Counseling, and Appropriate
Use of HIV Case Reporting [guidelines]
Published by: UNAIDS
This joint report from WHO and UNAIDS provides recommendations
to VCT planners and counselors about how to encourage people
to disclose their HIV serostatus to their sexual partner(s)
and issues of confidentiality and appropriateness in regional
and national case reporting systems.
http://www.unaids.org/publications/documents/hivnotification/files/Opening_up.doc
Revised Guidelines for HIV Counseling, Testing, and
Referral [guidelines]
Published by: CDC (2001)
This publication from the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
summarizes the recommendations of a technical expert panel
for public- and private-sector policy makers and service providers
of HIV counseling, testing, and referral. The recommendations
are based on evidence from all available scientific sources;
where evidence is lacking, opinion of "best practices"
by specialists in the field has been used.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5019a1.htm
Revised Recommendations for HIV Screening of Pregnant
Women [guidelines]
Published by: CDC (2001)
Since 1998, the US government has recommended HIV testing
for all pregnant women receiving antenatal care, given effective
interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission and
to treat HIV-infected women. These guidelines arose as the
result of meetings concerning prevention of prenatal HIV and
care of HIV-infected women, and are consistent with the Revised
Guidelines above.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5019a2.htm
Scientific Study Results, Conference
Proceedings, & Commentary
HIV & Partner Violence: Implications for HIV
Voluntary Counseling and Testing [study report]
Published by: HORIZONS/Population Council
A study exploring the links between HIV infection, serostatus
disclosure, and partner violence among women attending the
Muhimbili Health Information Center (MHIC), a VCT clinic in
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
http://www.popcouncil.org/horizons/ressum/vct_violence.html
Personalized HIV Counseling And Testing Show Promise
In Reducing Risk Behaviors [article]
Published by: International Family Planning
Perspectives
This article describes how personalized HIV counseling and
testing can improve the likelihood of positive behavior change
to prevent HIV infection and reduce spread.
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2704901.html
Voluntary Counseling and Testing: Will It Attract
Youth? [study report]
Published by: HORIZONS/Population Council
A Population Council study in Kenya and Uganda indicates that
youth would like access to HIV testing and counseling services
if the services are confidential, honest, and inexpensive.
http://www.popcouncil.org/horizons/ressum/vct_youth.html
WHO/UNAIDS Technical Consultation on Voluntary HIV
Counseling and Testing: Models for Implementation and Strategies
for Scaling of VCT Services [meeting proceedings]
Published by: UNAIDS
This meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, led to the development of
guidelines for applicability of different VCT models and approaches
for different target groups.
http://www.unaids.org/publications/documents/health/counselling/VCT-Report-Harare.doc
Program Management Tools
Assessment of VCT Services [tool]
Published by: UNAIDS
This tool assesses the availability and quality of VCT services.
It has been used in several countries, although future revisions
are likely, as the VCT programs mature.
http://www.cpc.unc.edu/measure/guide/tools/unaidsvct/unaidsvct.pdf
(pdf format )
Costing Guidelines for HIV Prevention Strategies
[tool]
Published by: UNAIDS
Instructions for conducting costing exercises for HIV prevention
interventions, including VCT. Useful for program planners
and health economists.
Click
here to download (pdf format )
Models of HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing Service
Delivery [fact sheet]
Published by: Family Health International
(FHI)
Contains overviews of the models that have been employed for
VCT services (including stand-alone sites, integrated sites
within existing health facilities, NGO-based sites, private
sector sites, mobile/outreach services, and a combination
of these services), evaluating strengths and constraints of
each.
http://www.fhi.org/en/aids/impact/briefs/vctmodels.html
Counseling and voluntary HIV testing for pregnant
women in high HIV prevalence countries: Elements and issues
[report]
Published by: UNAIDS
This report covers rationale for prevention of maternal-to-child
transmission, considerations in counseling and risk reduction
for pregnant women, and operational and cost considerations
for HIV testing in pregnant women.
Click
here to download (pdf format )
Brochures and posters the ARC has recently
produced to promote VCT
Click here
to see the side A of the brochure (for men)
Click here
to see the side B of the brochure (for men)
Click here
to see the side A of the brochure (for women)
Click here
to see the side B of the brochure (for women)
VCT Centers in Oromia |
