Predictors Of Hiv Counselling And Testing Uptake Among Undergraduate Students At The College Of Health Sciences, University Of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome epidemic remains a burden worldwide and young people constitute the majority of the burden. Establishing factors that influence the uptake of HIV counselling and testing among young people is mandatory to reduce HIV incidences, and hence help to prevent and control the epidemic. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with the uptake of HIV counselling and testing among undergraduate students at the University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences among undergraduate students aged 17-26 years. Multi-stage sampling was used to select participants. Data was collected using a mobile tablet device-based questionnaire on the Open Data Kit application. Descriptive statistics, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed using STATA software version 11.2 at 20% and 5% level of significance and 95% confidence interval. Results: Of the 386 participants, 51.1% were females and 48.9% were males. Almost all participants (93.0%) were aware of where to access HIV testing services from, and, 76.1% had good HIV related knowledge, while 82.1% knew their HIV status. However, only 46.1% had gone for HIV testing and received their results in the last 12 months prior to the study. Factors that were independently associated with the uptake of HIV counselling and testing among the participants were; privacy of the location of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing center (AOR:8.1; 95%Cl:2.7-24.6; p<0.01), peer influence (AOR:1.6; 95%Cl:1.0-2.4; p=0.05), duration in the academic programme (AOR:0.77; 95%Cl:0.25-2.28; p=0.03), and whether the participants were sexually active or not (AOR:2.1; 95%Cl:1.3-3.2; p<0.01). 2 Conclusion: Almost all students at the College of Health Sciences were aware of where to go for HIV counselling and testing services, however, only less than half of them went for it. The uptake of HIV Counselling and Testing was increased by; privacy of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing location, sexually active and peer influence. Fear of getting tested for HIV and getting positive test results were possible barriers to the uptake of HIV Counselling and Testing among the students study population. Recommendations: To increase HIV counselling and testing uptake among the university students at the College of Health Sciences, the study recommends that the University of Nairobi should consider privacy of the location for the Voluntary Counselling and Testing centers to attract more students to go for HIV testing services, Pre-and post-counselling services should also be offered to minimize fear associated with the HIV test results. The university should also train smaller groups of students from each of the schools as volunteer peer counsellors to promote voluntary HIV counselling and testing at the College of Health Sciences.