How to Mentally Prepare Yourself for HIV Testing
Going for an HIV test can be frightening! Ask anyone who has ever gone. Whether you are pregnant, applying for a new medical aid, travelling, or worried about your status, going for an HIV test is a simple process, physically at least.
Who should be tested for HIV?
The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested, and knowing your HIV status empowers you to stay healthy. Health organisations suggest that everyone from the age of 13 is tested for HIV. Did you know that South Africa has the largest antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme in the world? In addition, 90% of South Africans living with HIV know their status and 71% of those people are on treatment.
Why is counselling important?
Our minds can be our own worst enemy, and negative self-talk combined with the stigma, discrimination and fear surrounding HIV means that getting mentally prepared for an HIV test is important. It is for this reason that everyone going for an HIV test must receive counselling before and after the test is done. This will help you prepare for the worst-case scenario (if you test positive for HIV) and your options and support will be explained to you. People who have the correct pre- and post-test counselling cope better with the test and are more likely to look after their health and the health of their families.
Pre-Test Counselling
Pre-test counselling is to make sure that you understand what HIV/AIDS is, what the test involves, and the session encourages you to think of the impact (positive and negative) that knowing your status may have on your life. Remember that having an HIV test is confidential and your own personal decision. It is an important part of your long-term health to understand as much as you can about HV.
Some of the issues the counsellor will discuss with you are:
- Your general health status and underlying problems.
- Your risk of being infected with HIV.
- Your knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS.
- Your understanding regarding the impact a positive or negative result may have on your life.
- Your reaction regarding receiving your results.
- The advantages and disadvantages of having a HIV test.
- Details of your support structure (support from loved ones, friends and/or colleagues)
- Who you would be able to tell if you tested HIV positive?
- How you have coped with problems in the past.
- What the test involves (a finger prick blood test), what a ‘window period’ is and what positive and negative test results mean.
Post-Test Counselling
Once the HIV test has been done, you will receive post-test counselling. This is the counselling during which you will receive your result. HIV test results are never given over the phone – no matter if you test positive or negative. You can only receive your results in-person.
During this session, the counsellor will:
- Give you your result.
- Let you express your feelings about being HIV positive or negative.
- Provide you with information on what other resources are available to help you live a healthy and positive life.
- Discuss any immediate problems and help you to decide on a plan of action.
- Answer any questions you may have.
Ongoing HIV/AIDS Counselling
If you have tested positive for HIV (and even if you haven’t and decide counselling would help you live a better life) you may be referred for ongoing counselling through your Employee Wellbeing Programme or your Medical Scheme Managed Care programmes. On-going counselling helps you to live positively and empowers you with support and guidance to cope and live with a chronic illness.
The aims of ongoing counselling are to:
- Help you manage the impact that HIV has on your life.
- Encourage you to take control of your health.
- Help you accept your result and live positively with HIV/AIDS.
- Explore the advantages and disadvantages of sharing your status.
- Provide emotional and psychological support.
- Help you strengthen your support system.
- Help you plan for the future.
- Explore issues around death and dying.
- Refer you to community and other resources.
Waiting for your test results can take anywhere from 2 to 14 days and this can be a very stressful time. You may find yourself constantly worrying about risks that you may be HIV positive. You may feel scared, guilty, ashamed, angry, and depressed. All of that is normal and the counsellors are there to help you through this. Remember, even if you are HIV positive, there is a lot that you can do to stay in control of your life and to lead a long and productive one. Know your status, get tested.
If you are going for an HIV test or are waiting for the results and are feeling depressed, anxious or are not sleeping well, please reach out for help. Contact us on 0861 GOLIFE (465433), or SMS 43281, or email golife@healthichoices.com.
References: Health24: Pre-HIV test counselling; KZN Health: HIV testing and counselling; HIV.gov: Who Should Get Tested?; HIV.gov: What Can You Expect When You Go in for an HIV Test?; AVERT: HIV And AIDS In South Africa; UNAIDS: South Africa; AVERT: HIV testing and counselling (HTC) in South Africa; Better2Know: HIV Testing