Literal question
Did you, yourself, ask for the test, was it offered to you and you accepted, or was it required?
Post question
If an answer is provided here > Go to next eligible woman or mother or caretaker of child aged under 5 or household
Interviewer instructions
This question aims to obtain information about the level of "unmet need" for HIV-testing. They first ask about experience of HIV testing. Voluntary testing and counselling are now encouraged, in the belief that if a person knows his or her status, he or she is more likely to adopt behaviours to prevent contracting the virus or (if positive) transmitting it. Many of those who get tested do not return to learn the result of the test, but the proportion of those who return should rise as the quality of pre-test counselling improves. It is important to obtain an estimate of the number of those tested who return to learn the result, in order to monitor this proxy indicator of the quality of available counselling and the level of demand for such services.
Check the respondent's answer to MN5 in the Maternal and Newborn Health module regarding whether or not she was tested for HIV during her antenatal care visits. If the respondent has already answered that she was tested during antenatal care visits, you do not need to ask her this question. In such cases, check the box marked 'Yes' and go to HA18. If her answer was 'No', check the corresponding box and continue to this question.
If the respondent has been tested for HIV, we want to know whose idea it was to get the test. There are three options, so read the entire question before expecting an answer. Perhaps the respondent asked to be tested for HIV. Perhaps a health worker offered to test the respondent and the respondent accepted being tested. Perhaps the test was required for some reason.
Circle the code corresponding to the response. If the respondent got tested because her partner asked her to do so, you would circle '1' corresponding to 'Asked for the test', because she got the test of her own volition, in response to someone asking her to do so. This would be the case if a girlfriend or boyfriend or spouse or other concerned person personally asked them to get tested. If the respondent was offered the test during a normal health centre visit, for instance, and the respondent accepted the test, this would be coded as '2', 'Offered and accepted'. By "required," we mean formally required. For example, an employer may require their employees to get tested for the AIDS virus. If so, you would circle '3' for 'Required'. Also, some countries require applicants applying for work permits or applicants applying for visas to show proof of an AIDS test.
Whatever the woman's response to this question, thank the woman. Check whether she is the mother or primary caretaker of any children that live with them and are under the age of 5 years by checking the Household Questionnaire, column HL8, for the woman's line number. If so, start interviewing her with the Questionnaire for Children under Five for those children.
If this woman is not the mother or primary caretaker of any children under 5 in the household, check if there is another eligible woman residing in the same household. If so, go on to administer the Questionnaire for Individual Women to the next eligible woman. Continue until you have completed questionnaires for all eligible women and children in the household.
