Laura Sibanda

Female Students Motivations for Voluntary Counselling and Testing: Perceived Effectiveness of Voluntary Testing and Counselling on Sexual Risk Behaviour of Hiv Negative Female Students Laura Sibanda

The aim of this study was to examine the perception of the influence of Voluntary Counselling and Testing on the sexual risk behaviour of HIV negative female University students. The findings of this study suggest that VCT is generally perceived as effective in helping to reduce risk- taking among HIV negative participants. At the same time participants felt motivated to do what it takes to obtain a negative result on their next test. However, one participants? felt that her negative results could make her vulnerable to pressures from her partner to practice unsafe sex. For VCT to have a positive impact on the sexual behaviour of individuals who test negative, programmes should provide up to date information, as part of pre and post test counselling, in a clear manner to avoid miscommunication and misunderstanding on the part of participants. Further, more support needs to be provided to individuals who are HIV negative in the form of support groups or open forums that encourage young people to discuss what situations put them at risk as well as assist other members of the group to deal with such situations.