BackgroundThis study explored the factors associated with changes in HIV testing uptake among young women in Tanzania, based on an analysis of data from the 2003–2004 Tanzania HIV/AIDS Indicator Survey, and the 2007–2008 and 2011–2012 Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Surveys.MethodsThe study population consisted of young women aged 15–24 years at the time of the survey. Multivariate decomposition analysis was used to assess factors associated with changes in HIV testing uptake between the 2003–2004 and 2007–2008 surveys, and between the 2007–2008 and 2011–2012 surveys.ResultsHIV testing uptake among the study population was 7 % in 2003–2004, 31 % in 2007–2008 and 40 % in 2011–2012. The time period of the survey had a substantial effect on the uptake of HIV testing independent of other covariates. The characteristics that were significantly associated with a higher chance of HIV testing uptake across the surveys were age (20–24), education level (primary and secondary), ever being married, having at least one lifetime sexual partner, having a sexually transmitted infection or associated symptoms, and receiving antenatal care.ConclusionsChanges in the study participants’ characteristics in the 2003–2004 survey compared with the 2007–2008 survey were associated with a decrease in HIV testing uptake. Comparing the 2007–2008 survey with the 2011–2012 survey shows that the changes in the participants’ characteristics contributed to 22 % of the changes in HIV testing uptake, while 78 % of the changes were attributed to coefficients.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-016-0180-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.