Socio-demographic variables and psychosocial stressors among Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) attendees: A preliminary report from North India

According to UNAIDS (2008), the number of HIV-infected people in India ranged between 2.0 and 3.1 million (UNAIDS, 2008). More than 90 percent of these infections were acquired through one of the following three horizontal routes: heterosexual contact, homosexual contact and intravenous drug use [1]. In order to control the surge in HIV incidence in a vastly populated country like India, the routes of transmission were needed to be checked and prevented through establishment of gateways throughout the country. It was with this aim that the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) had set up several Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers (VCTCs) across India. These are presently known as ICTCs (Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers). These are recognized as crucial corridors for provision of effective strategies for HIV prevention and care. ICTCs provide access to gain self help for HIV prevention, care, and treatment. These are means to create awareness, mobilize local responses and to reduce psycho-social stigmas following HIV infection such as denial, stigma and discrimination [2,3].

The social stigma of AIDS continues to prevail. Even though the numbers of attendees continue to rise in the ICTCs, sero-positive subjects do get detected at other places regularly. A few studies have been conducted previously stressing on socio-demographic variables [4].

Psycho-social aspect appeared to be a major factor potentially responsible for not undergoing voluntary counseling. A vast body of literature has focused on stress that is already prevailing among the HIV positive population [5,6].

A review of the literature indicated that the knowledge of anticipated stress (the stress that one foresees) among the population at high risk of getting the disease is lacking in literature; therefore, the present study was undertaken with the objectives of (1) identifying the socio-demographic variables that characterize the clients visiting a ICTC in northern part of India, and (2) assessing the primary anticipated psychosocial stressors prevailing in this population.(the stressors that might arise in the event of being diagnosed as HIV positives).

This prospective cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken over a period of two years on volunteers attending the ICTC at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP), a tertiary care referral hospital in north India. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained for the study. All the attendees formed the study population without any exclusion criteria. Informed consent was obtained. In case of minors consents were taken from the parents. Proforma containing study questionnaires were filled up by the counselors from those who gave their consent. Two basic questions were asked. One of these was asked to list the worries coming to their mind before going in for testing. The second question was to list the fears in the event of a positive test result. The answers were classified into nine categories (Table 1). The data was collected through the set formats for pre-test and post-test counseling following the guidelines issued by the National AIDS Control Programme (NACO) [2]. Data analysis for the point estimate (prevalence percentage and mean) was calculated using SPSS software version 16.

 

The socio-demographic variables recorded were age, sex, and HIV status. Primary psychosocial stressors were assessed as per the set format of pretest counseling which required the attendee to specify his/her anticipated source of stress (the stress they anticipated in case they were diagnosed as HIV positives). The stressors were thereafter categorized into different categories as specified in table 1.

From each client consenting to HIV screening, 2ml of blood was collected in a sterile vial by venous puncture. Serum was screened for HIV by using rapid kit [Advanced quality^TM Rapid Anti-HIV (1&2) Test (InTec Products, INC, Xiamen)]. HIV positive sera were further tested by two more types of rapid kits [SD-Bioline, immuno-chromatographic, HIV-1/2, Standard Diagnostics INC., Korea; HIV-TriDot (Immunochromatographic, BIOMED industries, Himachal Pradesh)] as per NACO guidelines [3]. Post test counseling was done preferably on the same day.

All the attendees, excepting the minors, were imparted pretest counseling. In case of 16 minors (≤14 years) counseling was provided to one or both the parents. All of them were advised to attend the post test counseling.

Three hundred eleven clients attended the ICTC during two year study period. The majority (225/311, 72.7%) were males. The mean age of attendees was 29.3 years. Two hundreds and eighty-eight (92.6%) volunteers agreed for HIV testing. Seventy two (25%) of them tested positive, of whom 68.8% were males. Maximum of attendees were in 25 to 39 years age group (Table 2). Interestingly maximum number of HIV positives was found in the youngest age group of ≤14 years (15/16; 93.7%) followed by younger age group of 20-24 years (10/16; 62.5%). All 311 participants including the parents of the minors were imparted pretest counseling. Among the participants who were tested 255 (255/288; 88.5%) attended post-test counseling session. Heterosexual route was the commonest mode of transmission for HIV (54/72, 75%). Of them 39 (78%) were males and 15 (68.2%) were females. Seventeen families (husband, wife and at least one child) were tested at the centre. Twelve (71%) had at least one, 10 (59%) had two and 7 (41%) had more than two members infected with HIV.

 

Among primary anticipated psychosocial stressors ‘future of the family members’ was the most common concern among the attendees (46.4%), followed by ‘financial insecurity’ (34.6%). Stressors related to other factors like sex, violence and addiction were also noted albeit in rarity. Multiple (two or more) stressors were observed in 80.7% of the attendees (Table 1).

Several studies have addressed the issue of Socio-demographic profiles and psycho-social stressors among HIV infected population. The incidence of having stressors after knowing the HIV status varies in different population. In one of the studies from India 32% individuals did not show any emotion after knowing the positive result. Studies from India described the rate of depression and anxiety at 10-50% [7-9]. The incidence is lesser in western population and stands at 5-25% [10,11]. The stress responses in Indian population included anger, shock, disbelief, grief, fear and guilt, etc.

However the scenario is different in individuals opting for a prophylactic check up in an ICTC. The stressors playing in their mind might affect their decision to get themselves tested and also might have a bearing in the aftermath of testing.

No study on anticipated psycho-social stressors (thoughts prior to the testing) could be found in literature. Hence we are discussing about the significant findings from our study.

The presence of maximum attendees in the age group of 25 to 39 years indicates that this age group perceived higher risk of HIV. These results are in agreement with the report from NACO [7] that the 25-39 years age group has the maximum number of AIDS cases in India [7]. Hence this group should be the focal point of targeted interventions of the ICTC. However the maximum HIV positivity in our study was in the age groups of ≤14 years and 20-24 years. This is a new observation. In the youngest age group (≤14 years) 9 children (all under 7 years of age) were HIV positive. All of them had HIV positive parents suggesting mother to child transmission (14/15, 93%). However the mode of transmission of HIV in these parents was found to be the heterosexual route. The 20-24 years age group had history suggestive of heterosexual route of transmission. Hence above all, the heterosexual route was the common route of transmission of HIV infection. This finding is consistent with various other studies [12-16].

Most of the participants who attended the pretest counseling also attended the post-test session. This may be attributed mainly to the rapid screening process which enabled the results to be declared within a few hours and therefore helped to reduce absenteeism. This was especially true for the outstation clients.

There was great concern about the future of the family members in case of the individual being diagnosed as HIV positive (family related stressors). The concern pertaining to financial matters were mainly the fear of losing job, becoming pauper, inability to afford the cost of treatment and a sense of financial insecurity looming large. This was especially if the person was the sole earning member of the family. Social stressors chiefly implied the stressors such as fear of being abandoned from the society, fear of being discriminated against, being ridiculed, etc. These findings may indicate that the knowledge of (i) AIDS being a treatable disease (ii) facilities available for free testing and counseling and (iii) free availability of antiretroviral drugs through organizations like NACO, needed further propagation. ICTCs are suitable centers for the above purpose.

Vertical transmission was found to be an important factor for spread of HIV. There are many risk factors described in literature. Strong association has been shown with maternal viral load, AIDS, Immunodeficiency, mode of delivery, duration of membrane rupture, prematurity, breast feeding and breast health.

Measures like elective cesarean section, antisepsis at birth, avoidance of breast feeding and ART therapy can significantly reduce the vertical transmission of HIV.

Behavioral changes in mother, voluntary counseling, ART prophylaxis, modification of infant feeding habits and immune-nutrition are effective option for prevention of vertical transmission related problem [17,18].

Pre & post test counseling in ICTC can help in providing the above knowledge and services especially to the population in developing countries.

Psychological stress has been suggested to have a biological effect on susceptibility to HIV infection [19]. The impact may be through multiple pathways namely immune modulation or change in genetics. This may further stress the importance of early psychological services offered in ICTCs.