Voluntary Counseling and Testing and Young people: A Summary Overview

Voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) is much more than drawing and testing blood and offering a few counseling sessions. It is a vital point of entry to other HIV/AIDS services, including prevention and clinical management of HIV-related illnesses, TB control, psychosocial and legal support, and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. High- quality VCT enables and encourages people with HIV to access appropriate care and is an effective HIV- prevention strategy. VCT can also be an effective behavior-change intervention. VCT offers a holistic approach that can address HIV in the broader context of peoples’ lives, including the context of poverty and its relationship to risk practice.

VCT offers benefits to those who test positive or negative. VCT alleviates anxiety, increases clients’ perception of their vulnerability to HIV, promotes behavior change, facilitates early referral for care and support—including access to ARV therapy—and assists in reducing stigma in the community.