This guide aims to provide sexual and reproductive health programme planners, managers, and providers with the information necessary to integrate voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS within their services.

VCT has been shown to be an effective strategy to facilitate behaviour change for HIV prevention. It offers an entry point for early care and support for those infected with HIV and prevention of mother to child transmission.

VCT also plays a role in reducing stigma and discrimination. The cost of establishing VCT services within existing sexual and reproductive health settings is lower than establishing them in freestanding sites.

In particular, the guide considers integration within the context of family planning service provision. Family Planning and VCT service provision have similar aims of reaching sexually active people and promoting safe and healthy sexuality, including the prevention of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unwanted pregnancy. Family Planning settings offer specific opportunities for reaching women with VCT.

There is a continuum of possibilities for integrating VCT services in sexual and reproductive health settings, and this guide supports those considering integration to determine the appropriate VCT components to integrate, and to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate an integrated service.

In conjunction with IPPF’s UNFPA-supported publication, Programme Guidance on Counselling for STI/HIV Prevention in Sexual and Reproductive Health Settings, this guide supports those overseeing the management of FP, maternal and child health (MCH) or STI services who are considering VCT within their current service provision, as a move toward developing more holistic sexual and reproductive health services.

The guide is relevant for both public sector and NGO sector service providers.