Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding tuberculosis preventive therapyfor HIV-infected persons, Botswana, 1999

SETTING: Botswana, 1999. OBJECTIVE: To measure knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about tuberculosis ( TB) preventive therapy (PT) for persons infected with the human immunodefic iency virus (HIV). DESIGN: A systematic sample of adult clinic attendees, using a standardised questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 275 patients at 38 clinics in five dis tricts were inte rviewed. The majority were female (65%) and unmarried (84%). Knowing someon e with TB or AIDS was common (78% and 53%, respectively). Respondents perce ived a relationship between TB and HIV (80%), and the majority were willing to undergo tuberculin skin testing (92%). Of those, most were willing to u ndergo evaluation for active TB (98%), and to take PT, although willingness to take PT declined with proposed duration (97% 6 months, 90% 1 year, 81% lifetime, P < 0.01). Previous HIV testing was reported by 13%; those who ha d not undergone testing reported that they would if doctors could improve t he quality (95%) or duration (93%) of life of persons with AIDS. The majori ty favoured receiving HIV test results on the day they were tested (60%). CONCLUSIONS: Most clinic attendees in Botswana were willing to undergo HIV testing if it were beneficial to do so, such as by receiving PT: Pilot PT p rojects should be initiated. Voluntary HIV counselling: and testing service s should consider rapid HIV testing methods.