Ajuwon Ademola J, Titiloye Musibau, Oshiname Frederick, Oyewole Oyediran
Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Int Q Community Health Educ. 2010;31(1):33-50. doi: 10.2190/IQ.31.1.d.
AIDS is a major public health problem in Nigeria. HIV counseling and testing (HCT) service is an important component of prevention and control programs. Little information is available about young persons' knowledge and use of HCT services in Nigeria. This study assessed knowledge of HIV/AIDS and use of HCT services among secondary school students and apprentices in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were collected through 16 focus group discussions (FGD) and administration of a 36-item questionnaire to 1,281 randomly selected male and female secondary school students and apprentices aged 15-25 years. The respondents consisted of 54% apprentices and 46% students. Although virtually all respondents were aware of AIDS, only 15.8% of the sample had heard about HCT. Of those who were aware of HCT, 30.1% knew where to access the service. Students had superior knowledge of HCT than apprentices. Only 7% of those aware of HCT had ever taken the test. The percentage of those who had reportedly taken the test ranged from 11.3% of female apprentices to 6.3% of male students, 5.3% of female students, and 5.2% of male apprentices. The barriers identified by FGD participants to use of HCT services are fear of stigmatization, perceived exorbitant cost of testing, lack of knowledge of where HCT service are available, and belief that HCT is meant for only sexually active persons. However, 82.6% of the entire sample expressed the willingness to take HCT if it is provided free of charge, and there is a guarantee of confidentiality of results. Young persons have limited knowledge of HCT and under-utilize this service. Establishment of new HCT centers, promotion activities using the media, and peer education are recommended to increase uptake of this service among young persons in Nigeria.
艾滋病是尼日利亚的一个主要公共卫生问题。艾滋病毒咨询与检测（HCT）服务是预防和控制项目的一个重要组成部分。关于尼日利亚年轻人对HCT服务的了解和使用情况，现有的信息很少。本研究评估了尼日利亚伊巴丹市中学生和学徒对艾滋病毒/艾滋病的了解以及对HCT服务的使用情况。通过16次焦点小组讨论（FGD）以及向1281名年龄在15至25岁之间随机抽取的男女中学生和学徒发放一份36项问题的问卷来收集数据。受访者中54%是学徒，46%是学生。尽管几乎所有受访者都知晓艾滋病，但样本中只有15.8%的人听说过HCT。在那些知晓HCT的人中，30.1%知道在哪里可以获得这项服务。学生对HCT的了解比学徒更好。在知晓HCT的人中，只有7%的人曾经接受过检测。据报告接受过检测的人的比例从女学徒的11.3%到男学生的6.3%、女学生的5.3%以及男学徒的5.2%不等。FGD参与者指出的使用HCT服务的障碍包括害怕被污名化、认为检测费用过高、不知道哪里有HCT服务以及认为HCT只适用于有性行为的人。然而，整个样本中有82.6%的人表示如果免费提供HCT并且保证检测结果保密，他们愿意接受检测。年轻人对HCT的了解有限，并且对这项服务利用不足。建议在尼日利亚建立新的HCT中心、开展利用媒体的宣传活动以及进行同伴教育，以提高年轻人对这项服务的接受程度。
