Module 1: What Is HIV Test Counseling? Why Is It Important?
Module 1: What Is HIV Test Counseling? Why Is It Important? Screen 3 of 12
What Is HIV Test Counseling?
Most clients come into HIV test sites to find out if they are infected with the virus that causes AIDS. We run that test for them, but HIV test counseling includes other elements too:
We need to make sure that each client understands how HIV is transmitted, how HIV transmission can be prevented, and what the HIV test results mean.
Also—and this might be most important—we hope to have a conversation with clients that encourages them to think about HIV prevention in their lives: what they’ve tried before, what works, what doesn’t, and what they might consider doing in the future.
What Is HIV Test Counseling?
Most clients come into HIV test sites to find out if they are infected with the virus that causes AIDS. We run that test for them, but HIV test counseling includes other elements too:
We need to make sure that each client understands how HIV is transmitted, how HIV transmission can be prevented, and what the HIV test results mean.
Also—and this might be most important—we hope to have a conversation with clients that encourages them to think about HIV prevention in their lives: what they’ve tried before, what works, what doesn’t, and what they might consider doing in the future.