BARRIERS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV SELF-TESTING AMONG LIRA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i12.1352Keywords:
HIV Self-testing, HIV Self-testing Stigma, Lira University, HIV PreventionAbstract
Background
HIV continues to be a significant public health concern, particularly among the young population in our communities, determining the barriers associated with HIV self-testing is very crucial for effective HIV prevention. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the barriers associated with HIV self-testing among the students of Lira University.
Methodology
This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design, stratified simple random sampling was used, where faculties acted as strata, and then systematic sampling was used to obtain the participants from each year of study. Quantitative data was collected using self-administered questionnaires.
Results
According to the findings, 174 respondents participated in this study, 90(51.7%) were males while 84(48.3%) were female. The age category 20-25 had 145(81.6%) respondents while 31-40 had 25(14.4%) respondents, single respondents were 154(88.5%), Year one had 92(52.9%) respondents, and Year Two had 30(17.2%) respondents, Education Faculty had 59(33.9%) respondents, and the Faculty of Management Sciences were 11(6.3%) respondents. The barriers to the use of HIVST services included Lack of Knowledge 113(64.9%), Concerns about the accuracy138 (79.8%), and Lack of counseling and support services 114(65.5%). Participants with less knowledge were less likely to use HIV self-testing services compared to those who had ever heard about HIVST services cOR: 6.438, p<0.001 also those lacking counseling and support services were less likely to have ever used HIVST services compared to those who had ever attended counseling and support services aOR: 13.265 p<0.001.
Conclusion
The study found that the majority of the respondents were year-one single males from the faculty of education, and their less knowledge of self-testing hindered the use of HIVST services.
Recommendation
Education Programs should be carried out to disseminate information and knowledge about barriers to HIVST services among students.
References
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MacPherson, P., Lalloo, D. G., Webb, E. L., Maheswaran, H., Choko, A. T., Makombe, S. D., ... & Corbett, E. L. (2019). Effect of optional home initiation of HIV care following HIV self-testing on antiretroviral therapy initiation among adults in Malawi: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 321(16), 1530-1540. (2019)
McHugh, G., Koris, A., Simms, V., Bandason, T., Sigwadhi, L., Ncube, G., Munyati, S., Kranzer, K., & Ferrand, R. A. (2023). On Campus HIV Self-Testing Distribution at Tertiary Level Colleges in Zimbabwe Increases Access to HIV Testing for Youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 72(1), 118–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.09.004
Mukora-Mutseyekwa, F., Mundagowa, P. T., Kangwende, R. A., Murapa, T., Tirivavi, M., Mukuwapasi, W., Tozivepi, S. N., Uzande, C., Mutibura, Q., Chadambuka, E. M., & Machinga, M. (2022). Implementation of a campus-based and peer-delivered HIV self-testing intervention to improve the uptake of HIV testing services among university students in Zimbabwe: The SAYS initiative. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 222. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07622-1
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