Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University -Faculty of Medicine - Department of Community Medicine

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno- Deficiency (sometimes Immune Deficiency) Syndrome (AIDS) is a global challenge of our time. Since the start of HIV epidemic about 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million people died of AIDS-related disease. Sub-Saharan African countries account for more than two third of people living with HIV infection. Egypt remains a transit and destination country for asylum seekers and refugees who fled their homelands due to civil wars and persecution to seek international Protection and Security, while natural disasters as famine and drought and as supervening in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa and the horn of Africa constitute other reasons for displacement. Majority of registered refugees in Egypt are from Syria and other main nationalities of asylum seekers and refugees are coming from sub-Saharan Africa; Eritrean, Ethiopian, Somali, and Sudanese and also from Iraq and Yemen along with Palestinian refugees. HIV prevalence in these countries vary but is estimated at 4.7% in sub- Saharan countries. The study aims to identify factors affecting refugees{u2019} willingness for utilization of HIV prevention and voluntary counseling and testing services and AIDS care, support and treatment services at Refuge Egypt clinics and their role in promoting the services and to research and assess HIV stigma and discrimination. 310 participants from out patients{u2019} clinics were interviewed. 99.6% of them have heard about HIV infection, 77.4% (240) performed the HIV test and 22.6% (70) decided to delay to conduct HIV test. Among those who performed the test 83.3% (200) were negative for HIV infection and 16.7% (40) had positive results. Fear of rejection and discrimination because of living with HIV was put into evidence with difference between sexes, age groups above 30 years and in relation to work status.

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