Impact of HIV Counseling and Testing among Childbearing Women - Research Proposal Example

Impact of HIV Counseling and Testing among Child-bearing Women in the UK Name: Institution: 1.0 Introduction HIV counseling and testing practice has been under intense pressure because of the claims that it does not reduce the risk behaviors (Baloyi, 2011). In the United Kingdom the impact of HIV counseling and testing has been felt through counseling, clinical care, support services and access to information for child bearing women. Depending of the outcomes, the counselors are expected to offer follow up advisory services using a personalized and client-centered approach. The process is conducted through listening to the clients in a nonjudgmental and nondirective manner. This process must develop the counselor-client relationship. The essence is to capture the client’s sentiments empathetically and offer using information using multiple hours-long sessions. Child bearing women in the United Kingdom need professional counseling and testing encounters that impact on transmission incidents, risk behaviors and proactive health practices (Bennett & Erin, 1999). The impact of the counseling on child bearing women in the United Kingdom is expected to be assessed through HIV prevention interventions. Professional competencies involved and the expected outcomes. 2.0 Research objectives To explore the significance of counseling and testing on subsequent HIV infection among child bearing women who turned negative To investigate and give recommendations on the incremental impact of counseling on childbearing women who tested HIV positive To examine the impact of client centered counseling on child bearing mothers with seronegative status or experiences 2.1 Research question This is a qualitative exploration significance of HIV counseling and testing among child bearing women in the UK specific focus on behavioral implications, competencies employed and quality of the service with particular focus on serostatus of the individuals. 3.0 Background literature Counseling assumes a helping relationship exists between the client and the counselor. In most developed countries, the HIV counseling is not requested by the patients but is imposed by the state laws (Baloyi, 2011). Most of the VCT counselors are not mental health professionals (Baloyi, 2011). In the United Kingdom, most of the child-bearing women visit counseling centers primarily to get test result (Bennett & Erin, 1999). Previous studies indicate that counseling and testing leads to behavior change among child-bearing women. This includes reduction is STI incidences, use of condom, and responsible conduct when it comes to sexual partnerships. In developed countries like the United Kingdom, child bearing women tend to adopt safe behaviors after counseling and testing (Moatti, 2000). The government has been using HIV testing as a gateway for treatment and prevention (HPA, 2007). The impacts have left different proposals depending on the outcome of the results. The downside of the counseling and testing leads to ostracizing, divorce or discrimination of child-bearing women in the United Kingdom (Moatti, 2000). This is propelled by the fact that in a world where breastfeeding is universal, privacy becomes limited (Bennett & Erin, 1999). In most cases, child-bearing women find it expensive to access breast-milk substitutes. This makes it difficult for child bearing women to purchase breastfeeding alternatives without announcing their status. Most young women consider that the risks of HIV status expose are not worth taking (Bennett & Erin, 1999). However, counselors are expected to openly discuss the testing outcomes with the patients. The impact of counseling and testing is dependent on the quality of support offered to the women (HPA, 2007). Most of the child bearing woman are increasingly being informed that of the benefits of knowing HIV status (Carter, 2005). There seems to lack researches that implications of VCT among child bearing women in the United Kingdom. Studies indicate that the infections rates are correlated to the quality and availability of counseling and testing services among the women. Counseling session is also important in ensuring that infection is controlled in future through pregnancy or breastfeeding in case a woman turns HIV positive (Carter, 2005). The sessions give opportunities to active for child bearing women to access preventive information and devices. Studies show that negative results give child bearing women the courage offer sustained and exclusive breastfeeding. In the United Kingdom, the counseling includes feeding options and appropriate choices for contraception (Moatti, 2000). This affects the future fertility of the concerned groups. 4.0 Justification of the proposed research Most of the previous address the impact of counseling and testing with regard to people who turn HIV positive. There is an inherent weakness in previous researches when it comes to exploring the incremental impact of VCT among women to turn HIV positive and subsequent HIV infections on those who turn negative. The impact of HIV counseling and testing must be perceived with regard to the pretesting session and post testing outcomes. This gives room for further information that befits the HIV status of the women tested. The information touches on the health of the infant, cost of breastfeeding alternatives, importance of breastfeeding and access to drugs. However, further research need to be conducted to establish the significance and impacts of HIV counseling and testing in the United Kingdom. Most of the previous studies have not been comprehensive and substantive. 5.0 Epistemology and methodology 5.1 Constructionist epistemology Epistemology refers to the study of creation, sharing and the nature of knowledge. The research process of the impact of counseling and testing on child bearing women in the United Kingdom shall involve acknowledging that knowledge is a product of internal construction (Bur, 2003). What is known about the impact of counseling and testing of the women involved in the research is that the process is difficult because of the nature of probable results. This fear of uncertainty continues to impact the effectiveness of VCT services among child bearing women in the United Kingdom. The impact of counseling and testing is perceived as positive or negative depending on the outcome of the test results. The constructed knowledge on the research topic dictates that counseling has an overall significance in that it is the initial source of advice and direction after a decisive test has been conducted (Bur, 2003). The social fear, past experiences, myths and fear of unknown continue to develop counterproductive knowledge with regard to voluntary testing process among child bearing women. Therefore, the process of exploring the impact of counseling and testing must be alive to these constructionist epistemological positions. 5.2Methodology 5.2.1 Thematic analysis The research shall capture the importance, impact and significance of counseling and testing of child bearing women based on the data acquired and relative to the research question. The patterns of data shall be used to interpret different aspects of the impact of counseling and testing among child bearing women (Braun & Clarke, 2006). This shall include familiarizing with the data acquired from authoritative sources and establishing themes that are responsive to the research questions and objectives of the study. The themes shall be reviewed to ensure accuracy and precision. The focus of the methodology shall be addressed through definite and named themes that are relevant to the research topic concerning counseling and testing of child bearing women in the United Kingdom. This process shall ensure that the themes are distinctive, coherent and consistent (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The developed themes shall form the basis of analysis. Graphical representations shall be used to display relationships between important themes. 6.0 Data collection 6.1 Participants The participants shall be women who visited the counseling centers, the counselor or health personnel, and the researcher. This data shall be recorded as provided in the center. Observation shall also be used to countercheck the data provided. This shall include three random visits to different counseling and testing centers just to ascertain the number of child bearing mothers to use the facilities per day. Data shall also be analyzed from audio-recorded counseling and testing session as provided in a previous case study. The study shall focus on child bearing women aged between 18 and 45 living in the United Kingdom. The participants shall be recruited through putting notices in strategic websites and the use of word of mouth. 6.2 Details of materials Interview shall be scheduled with participants after mutual consent. Where participants agree the interview shall be audio-taped. The participants shall be required to refer to sources of recorded information like diaries and photographs. Records from health centers shall also be part of the material usable in the process. In cases where case studies are used, technology shall be used to access case study information. This shall include online medical resources. 6.3 Procedure Data shall be collected from reliable and authoritative sources. Articles and scholarly material from renowned authors shall be prioritized. Besides structured interviews, HIV counseling and testing journals and government statistics and records shall be accessed during data gathering. However, permission will be source in advance. Data collection involves travelling to participants’ premises or destination of mutual agreement. It shall also involve using search engines, digital and print library material. Special effort shall be put to ensure recent publications are used. The process shall involved collecting data from 10 different counseling and testing centers in the United Kingdom recorded in the last 12 months as complementary case studies. Data collection entails classifying information to understand the nature of counseling and testing among child bearing women in the United Kingdom. The triangulation process shall be used to develop the targeted themes of the research. This shall aid in processing coherence in thematic justification. Qualitative validity shall be a product of accurate strategies. Data synthesis shall come after data collection. Synthesis is the summary of analysis and interpretation. It forms the basis of action. It refers to systematic combination of different forms of data to develop a coherent conclusion or finding in a research. Descriptive statistics shall be used to analyze the collected data. Data collected in qualitative research includes case studies and women experiences in the process of counseling. A collection of records and historical documents shall be used to assess the impact counseling and testing among child bearing women in the UK. The data shall be analyzed through rigorous analytical processes. This shall ensure the findings reflect the current situation is the topic under investigation. The data from counseling and testing centers and other sources shall be analyzed using SPSS software. Data collected shall be encoded and analyzed to ensure flexibility. 7.0 Ethical issues and considerations: The integrity of the research shall depend on both the analytical and ethical adequacy. Data shall be collected only with permission from authorities in all the luxury companies, where necessary. This means that there shall be voluntary participation from the respondents, data protection, the purpose of the research shall be made clear and that the participants shall be assured of an opportunity to see and read that research report. The interviewees shall be prepared and informed in advance to minimize to possibility of absenteeism (Braun & Clarke, 2006). This shall include meeting them in convenient locations and spending minimal but quality time with them. The data shall be collected using authentic means to reflect the objectives and anticipated outcomes. The margin of errors is expected to be minimal. The participants shall have access to the outcomes of the research based on their preferences. Only authentic and authoritative secondary sources shall be incorporated into the research process. 8.0 Timetable Activity Duration(days) Early preparations-research teams preparations and training 7 The actual research – This shall involve a thorough search from the sources mentioned 30 Collecting data 14 Data analysis 7 Total 60 9.0 Significance of the research The research is expected to give substance to the debate that counseling given to the people who test negative has little or negligible impact of the subsequent behavior. The impact of client centered counseling and testing needs to be established in the United Kingdom. This might give insight to the policy makers on how child bearing women who turn HIV seronegative need to be handled. The research is expected to explore the quality of counseling given to child bearing women in the United Kingdom. This includes developing recommendations on how to make counseling and testing practical, effective and efficient. The research shall justify the need to invest in competences that can lead to interventions that reduce incidents of STDs among child bearing women in the United Kingdom. This includes considering the availability of agencies and nonclinicians to provide similar services in order to optimize the desired results. References Baloyi, G. R. (2011). Loss to initiation on antiretroviral therapy (ATR) after voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). London: Routledge. Bennett, R., & Erin, C. A. (1999). HIV and AIDS: Testing, screening, and confidentiality. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using Thematic Analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(1), 77-101. Burr, V. (2003). Social constructionism. London: Routledge. Carter, M., & National AIDS Manual (2005). HIV & women. London: NAM. HPA (2007). Testing times: HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in the United Kingdom : 2007. London: Health Protection Agency. Moatti, J. P. (2000). AIDS in Europe: New challenges for the social sciences. London: Routledge. Read More