Wang Yan, Kinsler Janni J, Kiwuwa-Muyingo Sylvia
Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Section of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2022;2(11). doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000536. Epub 2022 Nov 11.
HIV testing continues to be a challenge among the young population in Tanzania. As of 2017, only 30% of 15-19-year-olds reported getting tested and receiving their results. This study will examine the demographic and socio-behavioral characteristics associated with HIV testing among adolescents and young adults in Tanzania. Interview data from the 2016-2017 Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) were analyzed on 10,128 adolescents and young adults 15-24 years of age, representing 10.5 million youth in Tanzania. Weighted logistic regression was used to model the relationship of HIV testing with demographic and socio-behavioral characteristics. Half (50%) of respondents reported ever having been tested for HIV. HIV testing was significantly lower among males compared with females (AOR = 0.5;95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.5-0.6; p<0.001), 15-19 year olds compared with 20-24 year olds (AOR = 0.4;95% CI = 0.4-0.5; p<0.001), no education compared with secondary or post-secondary education (AOR = 0.4;95% CI = 0.3-0.6; p<0.001), rural residents compared with urban residents (AOR = 0.7;95% CI = 0.6-0.9; p<0.001) and those who don't use condoms during sexual intercourse compared with those who do (AOR = 0.6;95% CI = 0.5-0.8; p<0.001). Among HIV-infected youth, younger age group, rural residents, education less than primary, single, high income, and sex workers were significantly associated with never testing for HIV. This study highlights the majority of characteristics affecting HIV testing among young people in Tanzania have not changed over the years, thus it is necessary to re-examine the current approaches to HIV testing. The COVID-19 pandemic will add to this challenge as it collides with the ongoing HIV epidemic and competes for needed medical supplies and health care provider resources. In light of this current situation, intensified and targeted HIV testing programs for at risk young populations in Tanzania should be prioritized.
在坦桑尼亚的年轻人群体中，艾滋病毒检测仍然是一项挑战。截至2017年，在15至19岁的青少年中，只有30%的人报告接受过检测并得知检测结果。本研究将调查坦桑尼亚青少年和青年中与艾滋病毒检测相关的人口统计学和社会行为特征。对来自2016 - 2017年坦桑尼亚艾滋病毒影响调查（THIS）的访谈数据进行了分析，涉及10128名15至24岁的青少年和青年，代表了坦桑尼亚1050万青年。采用加权逻辑回归模型来模拟艾滋病毒检测与人口统计学和社会行为特征之间的关系。一半（50%）的受访者报告曾接受过艾滋病毒检测。与女性相比，男性的艾滋病毒检测率显著较低（调整后比值比[AOR]=0.5；95%置信区间[CI]=0.5 - 0.6；p<0.001）；与20至24岁的人群相比，15至19岁人群的检测率较低（AOR = 0.4；95% CI = 0.4 - 0.5；p<0.001）；未受过教育的人群与接受过中等或高等教育的人群相比检测率较低（AOR = 0.4；95% CI = 0.3 - 0.6；p<0.001）；农村居民与城市居民相比检测率较低（AOR = 0.7；95% CI = 0.6 - 0.9；p<0.001）；在性交时不使用避孕套的人群与使用避孕套的人群相比检测率较低（AOR = 0.6；95% CI = 0.5 - 0.8；p<0.001）。在感染艾滋病毒的青年中，年龄较小的群体、农村居民、小学以下文化程度、单身、高收入以及性工作者与从未接受过艾滋病毒检测显著相关。本研究强调，多年来影响坦桑尼亚年轻人艾滋病毒检测的大多数特征并未改变，因此有必要重新审视当前的艾滋病毒检测方法。新冠疫情将加剧这一挑战，因为它与持续的艾滋病毒疫情相互冲突，争夺所需的医疗用品和医疗服务提供者资源。鉴于当前形势，应优先为坦桑尼亚有风险的年轻人群体加强并实施有针对性的艾滋病毒检测项目。
