HIV and partner violence: What are the implications for voluntary counseling and testing?

A study undertaken by Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences and the Horizons Project explored the links between HIV infection serostatus disclosure and partner violence. The research was conducted among women attending a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinic in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The researchers began a qualitative research phase by interviewing people who were VCT clients at the Muhimbili Health Information Center to understand how violence is defined within the Tanzanian cultural context. Conducted to determine the factors that influence women and men as they decide whether to undergo HIV testing and counseling it was noted that the social meanings ascribed to HIV testing by individuals and their communities were significant barriers to getting tested and disclosing results. Moreover the researchers found that despite the backdrop of violence in the lives of many female VCT clients disclosure rates to partners by women have risen dramatically since the mid 1990s. The study also shows that there is little evidence that serostatus disclosure frequently leads to physical violence. However other data from the study strongly support the association between physical violence and HIV infection. Findings highlight the need to conduct more research at other VCT sites. Operations research is also needed to test community-based interventions designed to change harmful attitudes and norms about sexuality and violence.