How Informed? Using Informed Consent Statements for HIV Testing in a Mali DHS

P. Stanley Yoder, Macro International Inc.
Mamadou Konate, CERPOD

This paper discusses the use of informed consent statements for obtaining blood for HIV testing in survey research. The standard Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Mali in 2001 included a test for anemia and for HIV in adults of one-third of the households. A study of the use of this statement for anemia and HIV testing was conducted through observation, tape recording, and interviews to determine what interviewees understood about the testing and obtaining results from the informed consent statement. The study found that in most cases the informed consent statement was explained and not read, but that two-thirds had understood that the test was voluntary. The idea of anonymity of results was less well understood. Do we consider that a reasonable and ethnical outcome? The paper discusses ways to proceed in formulating statements, training interviewers, and taking into account the field situation for obtaining better results.