Psychological Factors Related To Utilization Of Hiv Testing And Counselling Among University Students In Nakuru County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

University students are considered among the populations under a high risk of HIV/AIDS infection and would therefore benefit immensely from HTC services. However the utilization of HTC services among this population has remained considerably low. There was therefore need to investigate the psychological factors related to utilization of HTC services among these students. The psychological factors under focus included; HIV related knowledge, perceived risk of HIV/AIDS, self-efficacy in managing HIV test results and utilization of HTC services. Ex-post-facto correlational research design was employed for the study. A sample size of 310 university students took part in the study. Purposive and proportionate random sampling technique was used to obtain the participants for the study. Questionnaires for students and an interview schedule for HTC Counselors were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations were employed to analyze the data. Inferential statistics that included Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to test hypotheses of the study at 0.5% level of significance. The findings of the study revealed a statistically significant relationship between HIV related knowledge, perceived risk of HIV/AIDS, self-efficacy in managing HIV test results and utilization of HTC services. The study recommended that HIV/AIDS education be tailored towards behaviour change rather than mere acquisition of knowledge. It also recommended sensitization of students on their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection, enhancing students’ self-efficacy in handing HIV positive results and making HTC services more accessible and friendlier to the university students. These would be useful towards enhancing the utilization of HTC services which is top among the strategies of reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS.