Knowledge and Compliance of Ebonyi State University Undergraduates to Voluntary Counselling and Testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids)

Knowledge and Compliance of Ebonyi State University Undergraduates to Voluntary Counselling and Testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids).

ABSTRACT

Early detection and treatment of infected individuals is an important step in the control of HIV epidemic. Voluntary counselling and testing is a concept developed in  this  direction. The study was conducted to determine the knowledge and compliance of Ebonyi State University Undergraduates to VCT for HIV/AIDS using a descriptive survey design.

The sample consists of 384 full-time undergraduates selected from 3 campuses by simple random sampling. Self structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data generated were analyzed and presented in frequency tables and percentages, chi-square (X2) was used to test the four hypotheses formulated for the study.

The findings showed a good level of knowledge of VCT for HIV/AIDS (69.9%) among EBSU students. More knowledge existed among females (36.7%) although not statistically significant. Presco campus students (40.2%) have more knowledge than the other two campuses.

All the students claimed to have done HIV test at one time or the other (i.e. did HIV test two times or more at three or six months interval voluntarily) but only 12.1% totally complied to HIV test voluntarily. Half of the respondents (73.4%) did HIV text “by own volition”.

Confidentiality (78.7%) was the most important factor that would make EBSU undergraduates use VCT services for HIV test. The study noted that the number of students with good level of knowledge of VCT for HIV/AIDS did not reflect in the compliance level.

It was recommended that awareness campaign on routine voluntary HIV test and safe behaviour practices to prevent HIV should be intensified to the public at large. Health care providers should ensure enabling environment that will make young people use VCT services for HIV test.

INTRODUCTION 

Globally about 70 million people have been infected with HIV virus while 35 million people have died of AIDS and 34million people were living with HIV by the end of 2011(WHO, 2014). An estimate of 0.8% of adults aged 15 – 49 years worldwide are living with HIV with variation in epidemics between countries and regions.

Sub-Saharan Africa remains most affected with nearly 1 in every 20 adults living with HIV and accounting for 69% of people living with HIV worldwide (WHO, 2014). In Africa, an estimate of 1.7 million young people is infected annually (WHO /UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS, 2006).

Many youths engage in risky behaviours, with fewer than 10% of the sexually active adolescent females from countries in sub-Saharan Africa reporting condom use (Human Development Report, 2004). In Nigeria 3.4million people are living with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2013).

Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the process whereby an individual or couple undergo counselling to enable him/her make an informed choice about being tested for HIV ( Federal Ministry of Health, 2003).

REFERENCES 

Academic Planning Unit, Ebonyi State University (2011)

Adeneye    A.K,   Mafe    M.A,    Adeneye    A.A,   Salami    K.K   &    Adewole   T.    A. (2004).Willingness to seek voluntary counselling & testing among pregnant women in Ogun state Nigeria. Retrieved  October 4, 2010 from http://gate way .n/m.nih.gov/meeting, Abstract/ma?f=102280380.

Adeokun .L. (2006). Social and Cultural Factors Affecting the HIV Epidemics. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from http:// gateway.nlm. nih.gov/ Meeting Abstracts/ ma? f = 102279480.

Ajibade B, Abdullahi. H & Oyedele C (2010) .Factors Militating against Compliance with Medical regimen among diabetic patients. Journal of Medical practice; 8 (1), 66 -72.

Ameal F, Cahn R, Melicchio G, Ben G & Cahn P (2002). HIV Counselling and Testing (VCT) in Buenons Aires; A study of 11,440 cases. Retrieved  April  16,  2010, from http://gateway.nlm. nih.gov/ Meeting Abstracts/ ma? f = 102252799:html

CSN Team.

Comments are closed.

Hey Hi

Don't miss this opportunity

Enter Your Details