BACKGROUND

The Philippines faces a significant Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden, but only 13% of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients are aware of their status. Barriers to testing include cost, access, risk perception, and stigma. 

OBJECTIVE

To determine the barriers to HIV counseling and testing among clinically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients seen at Corazon C. Aquino Hospital.

METHOD

Cross-sectional research design was employed in this study. Socio-demographic profile and potential barriers to HIV counseling and testing of the respondents was analyzed through descriptive statistics, association was determined through Chi-square. Total enumeration sampling was employed, 33 clinically diagnosed PTB patients was included in this study. 

RESULTS

Results of the study showed 57.58% of respondents lack knowledge about HIV counseling and testing with M < 3.1212. The perceived personal barriers of the respondents are poor knowledge, not perceiving themselves as at risk, and 48.48% not perceiving a benefit in accepting HIV counseling and testing. Socioeconomic barriers include privacy, cost, and fear of rejection from family and friends. Health institutional barriers include unfriendly service providers, privacy issues, queues, delayed results, remote locations, and unavailability. The demographic profile did not significantly correlate with these barriers. 

CONCLUSION

Increase awareness across all populations is recommended since no correlation with demographic profile was found in this study. Mixed-methods is recommended in this study, to reduce recall bias, validate respondents’ narratives and explore other perceived barriers, increase in sample size is also recommended. 

Human ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; Hiv ; Hiv Testing