The Role of Religious Leader Support on Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Behavior of Individuals at Risk of HIV/AIDS in Kupang City, Indonesia Manurung Imelda F.E.1, Probandari Ari2, Wahyuni Chatarina Umbul3, Nugroho Heru Santoso Wahito4 1Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Nusa Cendana University 2Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University 3Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Airlangga University 4Health Polytechnic of Surabaya Online published on 27 November, 2019. Abstract Voluntary counseling testing (VCT) coverage has not reached yet the target. Some communities in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province trust to religious leaders in treating illness. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between perceived social support of religious leaders to VCT behavior of individuals at risk of HIV/AIDS. This study was an analytical observational study with cross sectional design. Fifty-one individuals at risk of HIV was selected by consecutive sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and observations. The techniques of data analysis were linear regression. The religious leaders had a positive influence on the attitudes (b=0.59; p <0.001), subjective norms (b = 0.49; p <0.001) and beliefs (b=0.61; p <0.001) of individuals at risk of HIV/AIDS related to VCT. Intentions had a positive influence on the individuals at risk of HIV/AIDS to do VCT (b = 0.42; p = 0.004). The total of Individual at risk HIV and AIDS/AIDS who perform VCT was 46 people (86%). Religious leaders are potential to provide support for individuals at risk of HIV to do VCT. Religious leader can be used for providing support to access VCT services. Top Keywords HIV/AIDS, Voluntary counseling and testing, Religious leader. Top |