Title:
DETERMINANTS OF LOW HIV TESTING IN THE CITY OF KISANGANI IN THE DRC

Authors:
KOMBELEMBA KAKA Dieudonné, TAGOTO TEPUNGIPAME Alliance, WEMBAKOY OKOLONGO Albert, LUSAMAKI MUKUNDA Francois, PANDA LUKONGO KJ and LOSIMBA LIKWELA Joris

Abstract:
Introduction: Acquired immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The increase in the HIV/AIDS screening rate, one of the 95-95-95 objectives for the struggle against HIV/AIDS remain low in the city of Kisangani. The objective of this study is to determine the rate of HIV screening in the population of Kisangani and to identify the reasons that would limit screening. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study in two study populations including 326 subjects for the general population, selected occasionally from patients leaving the curative consultation, and 256 for the key populations, selected by sampling by a snowball. The data collected were entered into Microsoft Excel 2010 software and imported into STATA 13 software for analysis. The descriptive statistics focused on the proportions, the mean, and the standard deviation for the quantitative variables with the distribution. After analyzing and processing the data, the following results were obtained. Results: the rate of HIV testing in the general population was 45.4% and in the key population 59.38%, among the causes that limit HIV testing include, a lack of trust in providers 58.43% and 52.38% respectively in the general population and key population, fear of stigma and discrimination 56.18% for the general population and 52.38% for the key population, fear of death at 80.34% for the general population and 81.9% for the key population, Unawareness of testing sites 56.18% and 27.62 for the key population and general population respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that the HIV screening rate in Kisangani is low, 59.38% and 45.4% respectively for the key population and the general population, the 95-95-95 target is far from being achieved in Kisangani. As a result, it is necessary to intensify awareness-raising and community screening campaigns and to strengthen the capacity of service providers on ethics and the disclosure of patients' serological status.

Keywords:
Determinant, Low, Screening, HIV, Kisangani, DRC

DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.52267/IJASER.2022.3606