The feasibility of integrating alcohol risk-reduction counseling into existing VCT services in Kenya

Abstract

This pretest-posttest separate-sample study with intervention and comparison groups documented the abilities and willingness of trained voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) service providers to integrate alcohol screening and risk reduction counseling into their routine service delivery. Pre-test (n=1073) and post-test data (n=1058) were collected from different clients exiting from 25 VCT centers. A 12-month intervention that required all VCT providers from the intervention groups to screen all VCT clients for their alcohol use and offer them brief risk reduction alcoholrelated counseling was implemented. At post-test, the intervention group clients (n=456) had better study outcomes than the comparison group clients (n=602). Intervention clients were more likely to report that their VCT service provider had: asked them about their alcohol use (83% vs. 41%: p<0.05); asked them about their partner’s alcohol use (72% vs. 22%); screened them for their alcohol use (77% vs. 33%: p<0.05); and gave them feedback about their screening results (67% vs. 35%: p<0.05). The study concluded that VCT service providers are able and willing to integrate alcohol risk reduction services during routine VCT services, and supports the integration of alcohol risk reduction counseling at VCT services in Kenya. Key Words: Alcohol, VCT, Integration, Service provision, Risk reduction, Counseling, Kenya