Uptake of HIV voluntary counseling and testing and associated factors among students in the Higher Institutions of Learning in Kigali, Rwanda: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Background HIV/AIDS remains a significant global public health challenge with youth bearing the brunt of the burden. One essential method for preventing and accessing AIDS care is through Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). Regardless of this, youth population continues to have low utilization of VCT services. Objective To assess the uptake of HIV VCT services and associated factors among university students in Kigali. Methods A cross-sectional study among 374 students recruited using stratified sampling was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent factors associated with VCT uptake. Results The prevalence of VCT uptake was 59.9%. The logistic regression revealed that being Catholic (AOR = 11.99, 95%CI 5.44-26.41) and Moslem (AOR = 37.34, 95%CI 2.67-128.36) compared to Protestant, as well as availability of VCT services (AOR = 5.15, 95%CI 3.11 - 8.541) favored the use VCT. On the other hand, being aged 20 to 24 years (AOR = 0.112, 95%CI 0.04 - 0.29) had low likelihood of using VCT than those more than 24 years of age. Conclusion VCT uptake was significantly positively associated with religion and VCT services availability, and negatively associated with age 20-24 years in the campus. Therefore, targeted actions of disseminating information on benefits of VCT and enhancing accessibility of VCT services among students are necessary for the increased VCT uptake to be attained.