Factors influencing the uptake of Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing among secondary school students in Arusha City, Tanzania: a cross sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundVoluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) is a key strategy towards HIV prevention yet, the uptake of VCT services among young people remains low. This study determined the factors that influence the uptake of VCT among secondary school students in Arusha City, Tanzania.MethodsA cross sectional study using quantitative methods was conducted. A multi-stage sampling method was applied to randomly select the secondary schools. Stratification, random and systematic sampling techniques were used to identify the study participants. Interviews were conducted using structured questionnaires. Data analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences version 16. Analytical statistics were done using odds ratio to measure strength of association between VCT uptake and independent variables. Association with p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of VCT uptake.ResultsOf 400 study participants, 50.5% were male and 49.5% were female. 93.5% of the respondents were aware of the VCT services, 79.1% had high knowledge on VCT services and 75.9% had positive attitude towards VCT services. On VCT uptake, only 29.3% had ever tested. VCT uptake was found to be significantly predicted by age (p = 0.003), sex (p < 0.001), religion (p < 0.001), exposure to VCT information from a VCT centre (p < 0.001) and type of school ownership (p < 0.013).ConclusionDespite high knowledge on VCT services, the uptake of VCT among secondary school students was found to be low. The uptake of VCT was mainly found to be influenced by fear of HIV test results, knowledge and attitude on VCT services, age, education, engagement in sexual relationships, stigma and distance to the VCT centre. Integration of youth friendly VCT services in secondary schools would increase VCT uptake among secondary school students. Support and care received after knowing the test results should be clearly communicated as it helps motivate more young people towards VCT uptake and reduce stigma among them.

Human immunodeficiency virus testing and counseling trends analysis, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe: A secondary data analysis

“…Similar findings were reported by Sanga et al (2015) in Tanzania where the rate of voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) uptake was found to be lower among those participants below 18 years. The uptake of VCT was mainly found to be influenced by fear of HIV test results, knowledge on VCT services, age, education, engagement in sexual relationships, stigmatization and distance to the VCT centre (Sanga et al, 2015). Similar findings were reported in Cameroon where VCT uptake was found to increase with age (Mbopi-kéou et al, 2012).…”

“…Stigma and the fear of HIV positive results were found to be barriers to accessing VCT services in sub Saharan Africa (Matovu and Makumbi, 2007). In a cross sectional study by Sanga et al (2015) in Arusha City in Tanzania, females were about twice more likely to test for HIV than males. This implies the need to mobilize men for HTC for example in beer halls, churches and workplaces, where they are mostly found.…”

Factors of Low CD4 Cells Count in Treatment-naïve HIV Subjects in Southeast Nigeria

“…The enormity of the burden of HIV infection is overwhelming, especially in Sub-Saharan African countries which account for about 70.0% of world HIV-infected individuals [1]. Mass media campaigns for HIV awareness from local authorities, World Health Organization and International Agencies have tremendously increased voluntary testing and counselling [2,3]. As a result, HIV subjects tend to report at the early stage of the infection [4].…”

Aconselhamento em doenças sexualmente transmissíveis na atenção primária: percepção e prática profissional

“…While one of the priorities of primary care is the development of preventive actions for STD in the individual and collective context, few studies have examined how professionals act and perform (or not) counseling in daily service. (5,8) Considering the importance of counseling as a moment in which the user and the professional relate, exchange ideas, and share knowledge, (9) it is necessary to know the perceptions of professionals about how this practice has been developed in order to guide planning and relevant actions, provide the professional a reflection on their practices, and provide them with a scientific base that can coherently and consistently support and direct their actions during counseling. (5) This study aimed to understand the perceptions of health care professionals about the practice of counseling on STD and HIV/AIDS in primary care.…”

“…(1,4) Counseling has particular relevance in situations of infection risk through sexual exposure; educational activities can improve health care quality and can be used at several different times in health facilities, not just at the offer for HIV testing. (5) In the 1980s, the Brazil Ministry of Health established testing and counseling centers in order to offer diagnosis and counseling based on the principles of voluntariness, confidentiality, anonymity, speed, and resolution of HIV diagnosis. (6) In the late 1990s, the Ministry of Health began decentralizing STD prevention activities for primary health care.…”