Sexual Behaviour, HIV Awareness And Willingness For Free HIV Screening Amongs Tertiary Institution Population In Benue, North-Central Nigeria.

Abstract

Aim and Objectives: HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be a global challenge particularly among young people. The aim was to assess the sexual behaviour, HIV/AIDS awareness and willingness to undergo a free HIV screening among the State University community.

Materials and Methods: A Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students and stafY of the University community. Data was obtained through self-administered. semi-structured questionnaire. Consented respondents were screened, counselled and informed of their results. Data was analysed using SPSS version 19 software.

Results: Out of 779 participants, 447 (57.4% were-males, 63% were within 21-30 years of age. Over 90% had secondary or tertiary level of education. Seventy seven percent of the participants were single. Over 90% were aware of HIV and 2/3 (79.6%) of the total clients were willing to be screened for HIV. Forty percent of the responding clients had never been previously tested. Among the 319 clients that submitted for the screening 16 (5.0%) were HIV reactive. Thirteen (81.2%) of the reactive cases were single and had two or more sexual partners.

Conclusion: The study population had high level of awareness concerning HIV/AIDS with low uptake for HIV scrcening services. Multiple sexual partners also existed among the HIV positive respondents. Thus, a great risk to the entire community and could greatly undermine the efforts to prevent spread of the infection. Public Health workers should adopt impact strategies that would modify risky sexual behaviour, promote uptake of HIV screening services and subsequently contribute to curbing the spread of the epidemic.