Better Counseling Needed for Serodiscordant Couples in Kenya

Counselors in Kenya's rural health centers lack the training to properly counsel serodiscordant couples, PlusNews reports.

The government reports that six out of 10 HIV-positive Kenyan couples, or an estimated 350,000 couples, are of mixed HIV status. Studies show that couples counseling and testing reduces both risky behavior and transmission rates for HIV-negative partners.

Health workers are awaiting World Health Organization guidelines for counseling serodiscordant couples; these guidelines were supposed to be released in 2011, but they have been delayed by findings on the benefits of early treatment in such relationships.

To read the PlusNews article, visit: http://www.plusnews.org/Report/95238/KENYA-Better-training-needed-for-counsellors-of-HIV-discordant-couples.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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