HORIZONS PROJECT
Voluntary Counseling and Testing Among Youth: Phase II Operations Research

This study aimed to test the viability of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for youth and determine how to adapt programs to better serve young people in two facilities in Kampala, Uganda: the AIDS Information Centre (AIC) and Naguru Teenage Information and Health Center (NTIHC).

Study findings were collected from exit interviews conducted with youth 14–21 years old leaving services at AIC and NTIHC after the intervention was well established (May–August 2003).

Key findings included:

• Youth were highly satisfied with the new youth-oriented services.
• Clinics could not handle all the young clients who visited.
• Risk exposure was the main reason clients got tested.
• More females than males used the VCT services at AIC and NTIHC.
• After the intervention, AIC attracted more young women who paid for the service themselves rather than relying on a partner to pay for VCT.
• The intervention at AIC increased the proportion of young women who came to test unaccompanied.
• Youth heard about VCT from the media and friends.
• Anxiety about handling positive results prevents some youth from testing.
• Youth satisfaction with peer counselors was high, although the counselors faced particular challenges in their counseling roles.

Since the intervention, other AIC testing centers outside of Kampala have added youth-friendly corners and specially trained youth counselors. In the future, it is important that VCT centers that set out to attract youth anticipate increasing demand and plan accordingly.

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Location

Kampala and Masaka, Uganda

Duration

October 2000–November 2003

Horizons and Population Council researchers

Scott Geibel, Milka Juma, Sam Kalibala, Ann McCauley, Naomi Rutenberg

Non-Council collaborators

Lukanika Hittimana, Josephine Kalule, Daniel Lukenge, Jane Harriet Namwebya (AIDS Information Centre)

Julie Denison (Johns Hopkins University)

Leonard Bufumbo, Nelson Kakande, Edward Kirumira  (Makerere University)

Edith Mukisa (Naguru Teenage Information and Health Center)

Buganda Kingdom Youth Project Center

Kitovu Hospital Mobile Home Care Programme

The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO)

Donor

US Agency for International Development

Publications/Resources
Horizons and Population Council researchers' names appear in boldface type. 

2005
"Studies in brief: Kampala, Uganda—Study highlights ways to increase VCT uptake and satisfaction among youth," Horizons Report, June. Washington, DC: Population Council. (Contact horizons@popcouncil.org for a copy)

2004
McCauley, Ann, Milka Juma, Edward Kirumira, Nelson Kakande, Scott Geibel, C. Hitimana-Lukanika, Daniel Lukenge, and Edith Mukisa. "Attracting youth to voluntary counseling and testing services in Uganda," Horizons Research Summary. Washington, DC: Population Council. (full text)

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See Also

• Uganda

• Horizons Program

• FRONTIERS Program

• FRONTIERS Program/HIV and AIDS and Youth

• HIV and AIDS

• HIV and AIDS/Prevention

• HIV and AIDS/Youth

• Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program

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