The Impact of Voluntary Counselling and Testing: A global review of the benefits and challenges (UNAIDS, 2000, 96 p.): 3. Care: Improving access to medical, emotional and social support: 3.5 Post-test clubs/support groups

The Impact of Voluntary Counselling and Testing: A global review of the benefits and challenges (UNAIDS, 2000, 96 p.)

3. Care: Improving access to medical, emotional and social support

		(introduction...)
		3.1 Access to medical care
		3.2 Access to ongoing emotional/psychological care
		3.3 Psychological coping and adjustment (for the individual as well as for the family and community)
		3.4 Sharing of HIV test result with family and friends
		3.5 Post-test clubs/support groups
		3.6 Access to social support
		3.7 Legal and future planning
		3.8 Access to interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, specialist antenatal care and family planning services
		3.9 Access to HIV transmission prevention services

3.5 Post-test clubs/support groups

Peer support groups and post-test clubs have often been developed in association with VCT, to help people cope following VCT by sharing experiences and providing mutual support. In some countries they have also allowed PLHA to form pressure groups to improve services and challenge political and legal decisions. In Zambia, men were more likely to attend support groups than women (26% seroposi-tive men versus 3% seropositive women). Some people who had been through VCT and tested negative also attended support groups - again men were more likely to attend than women (15% men and 8% women attended) (Baggaley et al., 1998¹⁴²). Those who attended groups often did so in their own communities rather than in the support group associated with the VCT centre. Another study from Zambia has described the benefits of post-test clubs (PTC). Of the 810 people tested, 150 have joined PTCs. These provide peer support as well as outreach HIV education to the community (Katongo, 2000¹⁴³).