Concerns about contracting HIV, knowing partners’ HIV sero-status and discussion of HIV/STI with sexual partners as determinants of uptake of HIV testing

Bibliographic Data

ID24077261
AuthorsAdegboyega Isaac Ajayi (0000-0002-6004-3972, University of Fort Hare, corresponding author), Abdulazeez Olumide Abioye (University of Ilorin), Oladele Vincent Adeniyi (0000-0003-0216-6701, Walter Sisulu University), Wilson Akpan (0000-0002-9684-3752, University of Fort Hare)
Year2019
Volume51
Issue4
Pages549-561
Publication date2019-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Biosocial Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9320 • E-ISSN: 1469-7599
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0021932018000330
PMID30516121
OpenAlexW2903207493
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited30

Worldwide, adolescents and young adults (aged 15–25 years) account for the highest proportion of new HIV infections, yet the uptake of HIV testing among this cohort is sub-optimal. Understanding factors that predict the uptake of HIV testing among adolescents and young adults is critical for designing effective and relevant interventions to increase testing. Drawing from the psychosocial constructs of the Health Belief Model, the study examined the effects of HIV risk perception, discussion of HIV with partners and knowing partners’ HIV status on HIV testing uptake among adolescents and young adults in two Nigerian universities. The study was conducted in 2018 and was cross-sectional in design, with a final sample of 784 male and female students selected using stratified random sampling. Adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models were used to examine the effect of HIV risk perception, discussion of HIV with partners and knowing partners’ HIV status on HIV testing uptake. Only 50.6% of participants had ever tested for HIV with 30.7% being tested in the last year, with no significant differences by sex. After controlling for other covariates (age, sex and being sexually active), knowing partners’ HIV status, having discussed HIV with partners and being very concerned about contracting HIV were found to be significantly associated with ever being tested for HIV and recent HIV testing uptake. Uptake of HIV testing was found to be low in the study setting and fell short of the first ‘90%’ UNAIDS target. Age-appropriate strategies, targeting open communication on HIV/STIs and disclosure of sero-status between sexual partners are required to promote uptake of HIV testing among young adults and adolescents in Nigeria.

Cohort · Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Logistic regression · Pathology · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · Stratified sampling · Young adult · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Immunology · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Gerontology