Asaye Tariku Alem1, Malede Mequanent Sisay2, Abiy Maru Alemayehu3. 1. Amhara National Regional Health Bureau, Central Gondar Zone Health Department, Public Health Emergency Management Office, Gondar, Ethiopia. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. 3. Department of Optometry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a vital response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Determining the status of VCT services is important to link HIV care and antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: An institutional cross-sectional study design was conducted among 841 young students at Gondar College of Teachers' Education. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the data. Descriptive statistics were performed. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with the use of VCTs. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence was used to report statistical significance. RESULTS: The majority (71%) were aware of VCT services. More than one-third (37.8%, 95% CI: 34.6-41.2) participants had used VCT services. Having peer groups used VCT (AOR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.31-3.20), having partner (AOR: =1.6, 95% CI: 1.04-2.45), desiring to have VCT in the future (AOR=3.58, 95% CI: 1.98-6.50), being aware of VCT (AOR= 1.98, 95% CI: 1.20-3.34), knew infected/dead individuals with HIV/AIDS (AOR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.07-2.61), know test sites (AOR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.29-3.13) were positively associated, whereas being married (AOR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.20-0.63) and fear of confidentiality (AOR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.10-0.52) were major barriers to use. CONCLUSION: Low use of VCTs, which was far away from the 90:90:90 WHO goal, has been noted. The use of VCT services was associated with having peer groups that used VCT, having a partner, wanting to have VCT in the future, knowing the infected/dead individual with HIV/AIDS, fear of confidentiality of results, knowing the test sites, and having awareness of VCT. Efforts are needed to strengthen the health system that also needs to pay attention to education about HIV and VCT.
BACKGROUND: Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a vital response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Determining the status of VCT services is important to link HIV care and antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: An institutional cross-sectional study design was conducted among 841 young students at Gondar College of Teachers' Education. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the data. Descriptive statistics were performed. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with the use of VCTs. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence was used to report statistical significance. RESULTS: The majority (71%) were aware of VCT services. More than one-third (37.8%, 95% CI: 34.6-41.2) participants had used VCT services. Having peer groups used VCT (AOR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.31-3.20), having partner (AOR: =1.6, 95% CI: 1.04-2.45), desiring to have VCT in the future (AOR=3.58, 95% CI: 1.98-6.50), being aware of VCT (AOR= 1.98, 95% CI: 1.20-3.34), knew infected/dead individuals with HIV/AIDS (AOR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.07-2.61), know test sites (AOR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.29-3.13) were positively associated, whereas being married (AOR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.20-0.63) and fear of confidentiality (AOR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.10-0.52) were major barriers to use. CONCLUSION: Low use of VCTs, which was far away from the 90:90:90 WHO goal, has been noted. The use of VCT services was associated with having peer groups that used VCT, having a partner, wanting to have VCT in the future, knowing the infected/dead individual with HIV/AIDS, fear of confidentiality of results, knowing the test sites, and having awareness of VCT. Efforts are needed to strengthen the health system that also needs to pay attention to education about HIV and VCT.
Authors: Rebecca Bunnell; John Paul Ekwaru; Peter Solberg; Nafuna Wamai; Winnie Bikaako-Kajura; Willy Were; Alex Coutinho; Cheryl Liechty; Elizabeth Madraa; George Rutherford; Jonathan Mermin Journal: AIDS Date: 2006-01-02 Impact factor: 4.177