Original Research

Provider-initiated HIV counselling and testing (PICT) in the mentally ill

M Y H Moosa, F Y Jeenah
South African Journal of Psychiatry | Vol 19, No 3 | a408 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v19i3.408 | © 2013 M Y H Moosa, F Y Jeenah | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 31 October 2012 | Published: 30 August 2013

About the author(s)

M Y H Moosa, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, South Africa
F Y Jeenah, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

The prevalence of HIV infection is substantially higher in mentally ill individuals than in the general population. Despite this, HIV testing is not yet standard practice among the mentally ill population, and many mental health settings do not encourage HIV testing. This paper discusses provider-initiated HIV counselling and testing (PICT) and some of the ethical dilemmas associated with it, on the basis that PICT may be used to increase the number of mentally ill persons tested for HIV. The authors conclude that PICT should be promoted to all psychiatric admissions and mentally ill individuals receiving outpatient services, and that this is within the parameters of existing policies and legislations in South Africa.


Keywords

HIV testing; Mental illness; PICT; VCT; Ethics

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Crossref Citations

1. Self-Reported Prevalence of HIV Infection, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risky Sexual Behavior among Mental Health Care Users Accessing Healthcare Services in Tshwane District, South Africa
Mathildah Mpata Mokgatle
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doi: 10.3390/healthcare9101398