Willingness of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Among Long Distance Truck Drivers: A Window of Opportunity in Control of Retroviral Disease

Objective: To evaluate the factors influencing the practice of voluntary counselling and testing among long-distance truck drivers as it affects the spread of retroviral disease.

Design: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study conducted in the major bus terminals in Enugu State, Nigeria. A questionnaire-based tool was used to collect data from a population of adult bus drivers.

Setting: It was conducted at the 3 main motor parks in Enugu metropolis from January 2019 – March 2020.

Participants: 500 long-distance truck drivers aged 19-65 years.

Intervention: The knowledge and practices of the participants were assessed using a semi-structured interview guide. They were interviewed on various aspects of HIV/AIDS.

Main Outcome Measures: Knowledge and practices. On Knowledge and practice performance scale rating; < 50% is poor, 50 -75% is fair, and > 75% is good.

Results: Among the five hundred (500) long-distance truck drivers (LDTD) studied 68.0% showed a fair knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The prevalent high-risk behaviour was multiple sexual partners (73.2%). The practice of voluntary counselling and testing was poor, as (17.0%) had practised it; however, their risk perception was high at (76.0%). Fortunately, there was also a high willingness to screen 302 (60.4%) which was significantly higher in those with a tertiary level of education (100%) and the married participants (75.8 %) (χ2=174.4, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: There was a high-risk perception in this study population with a high willingness to be tested. We hereby recommend regular screening service at the motor packs of truck drivers in Enugu State.