Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and predictors of uptake of HIV counseling and testing among undergraduate students of a privately owned university in Nigeria

Abstract

IntroductionThe spread of HIV/AIDS among the reproductive age group particularly young adults is a major public health concern in Nigeria. Lifestyles of students on university campuses put them at increased risk of contracting the HIV. The aim of this study was to assess the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge and to investigate the factors that were correlated with the uptake of and willingness to take up HIV counseling and testing.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 1,250 university students selected by 2-stage random sampling technique using self-administered questionnaire.ResultsThe participants consisted of 57.7% females and 42.3% males with ages ranging from 15 to 32 years and a mean of 19.13 ± 2.32 years. The awareness of HIV was universal. The knowledge about HIV/AIDS was very high with a mean score of 8.18 ± 1.60 out of 10; and 97.1% of participants having good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The major source of HIV/AIDS information was the mass media. There was a significant difference in knowledge of HIV/AIDS by gender where male students had better knowledge about HIV/AIDS than females [t (1225) = 3.179, p = 0.002]. While 95% of the participants knew where to get an HIV test done, only 30.4% had tested for HIV within the six months preceding the study. However, 72.2% of them were willing to test for HIV. There was no significant association between demographic characteristics and having tested for HIV in the preceding six months but there was significant association between willingness to have an HIV test and the participants’ age groups, sex, marital status and their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Participants who were aged 21 years and above and had good knowledge about HIV were more willing to take an HIV test. Females were more willing to take an HIV test than males.ConclusionThe participants’ knowledge about HIV /AIDS was quite good, the willingness to have HIV test done was high and the knowledge of a place where test can be done was nearly universal yet HIV testing was low. Innovative school based programs should be put in place to leverage on the willingness to test and translate it to periodic HIV testing.

Integration of HIV Testing into Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Weeks for Improved Case Finding and Linkage to Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Services in Benue State, Nigeria

“…The strategy does not address the root causes of low uptake of HIV testing and PMTCT services in the country despite its potential to supplement routine ANC services. These causes of low uptake of HIV testing and PMTCT services have been widely published in Nigeria (6–8, 28–30) and corroborated by the qualitative findings of this study. The health system capacity to cope with potential increases in demands for PMTCT services following HIV integrated MNCH weeks needs careful consideration.…”

Knowledge, beliefs and sources of information of HIV among students of a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

“…Further evidence has also shown a higher prevalence in urban dwellers than their rural dwelling counterpart, especially among young individuals in schools NACA (2009) as the school environment is presumed to provide fertile grounds for high sexual risk behavior which increases the likelihood of HIV transmission (Adefuye et al 2009;Abiodun et al 2014).…”

Impact of HIV/AIDS Awareness on the Sexual Behaviour of Undergraduate Students

“…In the report of Abiodun and his group 11 , the background of the study was limited as the factor of undergraduate students' self-interest has not being considered. The limitation flowed on to the methods and results, whereby data on the prevalence of sexual activity among the respondents were not part of their research agenda.…”

“…The studies that have been carried out in Nigeria have yet to include community assessment needs in the north-eastern part of the country especially in relation to prevalence and riskiness of sexual behaviour of the unmarried Muslim youth. There are reports from the southern Nigeria [11][12][13] , and one from north-central 14,15 , but none has been found to be based on north-eastern region.…”

“…The paper articulates what is already known with a view to developing the community needs assessment program of work. While concerted efforts in public health ministries have been geared towards improving awareness, research is also focused on sexual health behaviour in terms of knowledge of, and attitude towards preventive measures [8][9][10][11][12] . The studies that have been carried out in Nigeria have yet to include community assessment needs in the north-eastern part of the country especially in relation to prevalence and riskiness of sexual behaviour of the unmarried Muslim youth.…”