The influence of antiretroviral therapy on the uptake of HIV testing in Tutume,Botswana

Abstract

This paper describes how the national antiretroviral (ARV) programme in Botswana has influenced the willingness of the community of Tutume District, Botswana to come forward for HIV testing. A retrospective review of Tutume Primary Hospital records was performed for three different periods: prior to the national antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme, once ART was available in limited centres and once ART was available locally. There was a five-fold increase in the number of HIV tests performed once treatment became available locally, primarily due to female voluntary testing. Access to free ART increases the HIV testing rate of previously reluctant communities.