What Works for Women and Girls

for HIV. Among women, 68% of those who knew someone on ARVs had had an HIVtest as compared to 48% of women who had a HIV test who did not know someone onARVs (Mfundisi et al., 2005). (Gray IV) (HIV testing, treatment, South Africa)A study of 12 focus group discussions, half with women, in Uganda found that participantsaffirmed the incentive for testing was the possibility of accessing free ART. Priorto ART, “testing for HIV was perceived as soliciting a death warrant” (Nyanzi-Wakholiet al., 2009: 903). ART was preferred over traditional herbal treatment because it hadclear dosages, expiry dates and was scientifically manufactured. ART was described asrestoring physical health allowing patients to resume their daily activities. Men deliberatelypostponed accessing HIV testing until they were evidently sick. “Participantscommended pre- and post-test counseling for enabling them to accept their status, copewith depression, stigma and thoughts of death… They emphasized the need for counselingto be continuous and not a one time event” (Nyanzi-Wakholi et al., 2009: 905).(Gray V) (HIV testing, counseling, treatment, Uganda)8. Promotion of VCT by people openly living with HIV may increase uptake of VCT.A study of ten comparable small and medium scale enterprises was split into twomatched groups of five each in Nigeria. One group of companies recruited, trainedand deployed a person each who was living openly with HIV. Each of the ten enterprisesnominated and trained two peer educators who conducted regular peer educationsessions. After six months, the companies that had VCT promoted by a person livingwith HIV had four times the number of staff accessing VCT compared to those that didnot (no numbers given) (Efuntoye et al., 2008). (Gray III) (peer education, counseling,HIV testing, Nigeria)A CD with taped testimonies of women who tested HIV-positive was shown in 21 clinicsin Mexico. Of the 1,869 women who tested in a ten-week period, 60% said they weremotivated to access HIV testing because of the taped testimonies of other women(Guthreau et al., 2008). (Gray III) (peer education, counseling, HIV testing, Mexico)9. Availability of VCT on-site at workplaces may increase uptake of VCT.A cluster-randomized trial in Zimbabwe found that businesses randomized to on-siterapid HIV testing at their occupational clinic greatly increased uptake of VCT comparedto vouchers for off-site VCT. Over 51% or 1,957 of 3,950 employees randomized to on-sitetesting had VCT compared to 19% or 586 of 3,532 employees randomized to off-sitetesting. Of those randomized to VCT though on site rapid testing, 88% were men; 12%were women. Of those randomized to VCT through off-site vouchers, 86% were men,12% were women. Rapid testing was linked to basic HIV care which did not includeantiretroviral therapy (Corbett et al., 2006). (Gray II) (counseling, HIV testing, workplace,Zimbabwe)162 CHAPTER 6 HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING FOR WOMEN