Job Perception of Counselors Employed at Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers for HIV in a District of South India.

BACKGROUND: The counselors' form the backbone of HIV/AIDS control program, and for voluntary counseling and testing services to be effective counselors' opinions are crucial. PURPOSE: To assess the perceptions of integrated counseling and testing center (ICTC) counselors with respect to the training received, problems faced in providing services, and job satisfaction. METHODS: Qualitative methods such as 1 focus group discussion and 7 in-depth interviews were conducted among 14 counselors employed at 13 ICTCs in a costal district of south India. RESULTS: The counselors identified the need for improving refresher training; job perception and satisfaction among counselors was found to be poor; issues such as shared confidentiality and targets for counseling were perceived to affect the ICTC services. CONCLUSION: The issues identified by counselors such as problems related to refresher training, targets set for counseling and testing, the pay scale and shared confidentiality should be addressed for better service delivery.

Client satisfaction with HIV counseling services: a cross-sectional study from south India.

BACKGROUND: Client satisfaction is a good predictor of performance of health programs. Hence, clients' perception and satisfaction studies provide insight to improve the program. PURPOSE: To assess clients' perception and satisfaction with Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) for HIV in an operational setting. METHODS: A total of 191 client exit interviews from 12 ICTCs. The clients were stratified into general and antenatal clients. A systematic random sampling was done at high client load centers. RESULTS: Cumulative client satisfaction was found to be 60% (±24%). Most of the clients (76%) agreed that counseling cleared doubts about HIV and found counseling beneficial (71%). Only 32% of the clients could recall issues discussed during the sessions. However, 92.5% were satisfied with ICTC facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Poor perception and low satisfaction with ICTCs needs to be addressed as this could have a direct bearing on the program.