HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing Utilisation among School of Healthcare Sciences Undergraduate Students at the University of Limpopo

Abstract

Existing evidence indicates that South African university students have low utilisation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the utilisation of HIV VCT among undergraduate students in the School of Healthcare Sciences. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data through Google Forms. The results are presented through descriptions and percentages and illustrated in tables. Out of 389 undergraduate students, only 324 completed the questionnaire. The majority (97.2%) were aware of the health centre on campus, while only (74.7%) knew about the HIV VCT services offered on campus. Despite the awareness, many (36.7%) do not utilise the campus HIV VCT services, and some (9.6%) have never tested for HIV. There was an association between awareness of Voluntary Counselling and Testing of HIV services offered at the campus health and wellness centre and utilisation of HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing at (<0.001). Therefore, it is imperative to urgently escalate the level of HIV/AIDS education in higher institutions of learning and emphasise the mounting danger of HIV infection and the immense importance of regular HIV testing. The findings of this study could serve as a foundation for creating HIV prevention and control programmes for youth, particularly in higher education institutions.

Factors associated with voluntary HIV counseling and testing among young students engaging in casual sexual activity: a cross-sectional study from Eastern China

“…Currently, VCT is a widely acknowledged and effective approach to mitigate the spread of HIV, which enables individuals to be aware of their HIV infection status, choose to undergo HIV testing, and assess the risk for HIV infection, while also developing plans to reduce the risk for HIV infection [ 20 ]. In this study, 68 out of 611 participants (11.13%) had engaged in casual sex underwent VCT, which was lower than that of research in other countries [ 15 , 21 , 22 ]. With advances in social development and globalization, individuals are more open to and proactive in accepting knowledge and information related to AIDS.…”

“…The findings revealed a 296% increase in VCT participation among individuals who engaged in AIDS-themed lectures or school-led health education classes, showcasing the proactive promotion and implementation of AIDS education. Schools’ initiatives in AIDS education primarily encompass professional lectures, training courses, promotional materials, and counseling services [ 21 , 27 ]. This trend demonstrates students’ awareness of AIDS-related matters and validates the efficacy of school-based AIDS education.…”