Does HIV Risk Perception Influence Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Service Utilization Among in-School Youth?

Application of the Health Belief Model, Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite its important role in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) service is being utilized poorly by the youth. Identifying the role of HIV risk perception as a factor in the utilization of VCT service enables designing appropriate behavioral change interventions. This study was conducted in Hawassa city, Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) to assess whether HIV risk perception influences the utilization of VCT service among in-school adolescents. The study used a cross-sectional quantitative study design applying the Health Belief Model (HBM) on a sample of 455 students selected using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire in Amharic language. Data analysis considered the complex sampling design. Results showed perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS among the students to be low (mean score = 3.12, standard error (SE)= 0.08—maximum expected score was 8). Conversely, perceived severity of HIV/AIDS was high (mean score = 7.16, SE = 0.16—maximum expected score was 10). Two hundred and twenty three (49.0%) of the students had used VCT service at least once in their life time. The reason given for not utilizing VCT service by many students (47.1%) who had never had VCT service was absence of any risk for HIV. HIV risk perception (perceived susceptibility and perceived severity) did not show a statistically significant association with VCT service utilization. Appropriate health information about the importance of VCT should be provided to in-school youth regardless of their level of risk perception.