Who Goes Where and Why? Examining HIV Counseling and Testing Services in the Public and Private Sectors in Zambia

By Ilana Ron, Wenjuan Wang, & Obiko Magvanjav

Contributed By PSP-One

Published: 2009

Zambia, a small republic in sub-Saharan Africa, has significant HIV prevalence with an adult prevalence rate of 14.3 percent (Central Statistics Office, 2007). Zambians living in urban areas are at higher risk of HIV infection than those living in rural areas (20 percent vs. 10 percent, respectively), while more women are infected than men.

The Zambian HIV epidemic is generalized in nature and is largely driven by heterosexual sexual contact (World Health Organization 2005).The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supports Zambia with more than $270 million in annual funding (FY08) and prioritizes interventions for both HIV prevention and treatment. In FY08, PEPFAR funds supported more than 640,000 HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) encounters. As of September 2008, 167,500 Zambians received antiretroviral treatment with PEPFAR support (PEPFAR 2008).

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