Personnel Requirement for Proficient HIV Counselling Services in a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of the study is determination of the maximum workload per counsellor per day, and the minimum personnel requirement to provide quality HIV counselling services for 100% clients receiving HIV testing services.Every client receiving HIV testing should be provided the statutory pre- and post- test skilled counselling dialogue, for a minimum of 45 minutes. Excessive workload is a deterrent. Maximum workload that guarantees HIV counselling for a minimum of 45 minutes was determined and applied to records of HIV serological tests, and HIV counselling, during January, 2007 to December, 2014, in a Teaching Hospital, to determine the minimum HIV counselling personnel requirement. It was established that maximum workload of 10 clients per counsellor per day, is required to effect the recommended minimum of 45 minutes’ counselling dialogue with clients; that only 45% of clients receiving HIV Serological tests were counselled, tested and received results, during the period of study (January, 2007 – December, 2014), in UBTH; and that a minimum of seven trained counsellors would be required to ensure statutory counselling services to 100% of clients receiving HIV Testing services. Monitoring statistics of HIV testing services enables prompt review and determination of minimum personnel requirement to prevent disparities between serological tests and and statutory counselling services.
Keywords: Minimum Workload, HIV Counsellors, Personnel, Monitoring,Test Kits