Addis Zelalem, Yalew Aregawi, Shiferaw Yitayal, Alemu Abebe, Birhan Wubet, Mathewose Biniam, Tachebele Belayenesh
University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, P,O, Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
BMC Public Health. 2013 Aug 2;13:714. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-714.
Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is one among different approaches which have been implemented as an attempt to slow the spread of HIV infection and minimize its impact at the individual, family and society level. VCT is perceived to be an effective strategy in risk reduction among sexually active young people like tertiary level students. Ethiopia as a country with high burden of HIV started responding to the epidemic by preparing and updating guidelines on VCT. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV among university students in North West Ethiopia.
A cross sectional study was conducted from February to May 2010 using a stratified sampling method to enroll students from different faculties into the study. A total of 330 university students filled in a self-administered questionnaire with response rate of 97.3%. Main outcome measures included level of knowledge, attitude and practice of VCT for HIV. A chi-square test was used to determine an association between a number of independent factors and dependant variables.
About 66.1% of the study participants were males with a mean age of 20 years. Majority (75.6%) of the respondents were Orthodox with 63% reported living in urban areas before joining the university. From the study participants 86.3% were knowledgeable on VCT, 73.3% had positive attitude towards VCT for HIV and 61.8% had had VCT for HIV in the past. Previous residence before joining the university, level of education, sex and religion were among the sociodemographic variables that showed statistically significant association with the one or more of the outcome variables. Fear of positive results, stigma and discrimination following the positive results were reported as main barriers for VCT uptake.
The findings reveal important barriers for VCT uptake and suggest strategies to reduce stigma and discrimination.
自愿咨询检测（VCT）是为减缓艾滋病毒感染传播并将其对个人、家庭和社会层面的影响降至最低而实施的不同方法之一。VCT被视为在性活跃的年轻人（如大学生）中降低风险的有效策略。埃塞俄比亚作为一个艾滋病毒负担沉重的国家，已开始通过制定和更新VCT指南来应对这一流行病。本研究的目的是评估埃塞俄比亚西北部大学生对艾滋病毒自愿咨询检测（VCT）的知识、态度和实践水平。
2010年2月至5月进行了一项横断面研究，采用分层抽样方法从不同院系招募学生参与研究。共有330名大学生填写了一份自填式问卷，回复率为97.3%。主要结果指标包括对艾滋病毒VCT的知识、态度和实践水平。采用卡方检验来确定多个独立因素与因变量之间的关联。
约66.1%的研究参与者为男性，平均年龄20岁。大多数（75.6%）受访者是东正教徒，63%的人报告在进入大学之前居住在城市地区。在研究参与者中，86.3%了解VCT，73.3%对艾滋病毒VCT持积极态度，61.8%过去曾接受过艾滋病毒VCT检测。进入大学之前以前的居住地
