Factors associated with HIV testing among young females; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.

BACKGROUND:HIV counseling and testing are key to control and prevent the spread of the virus and improve the lives of people living with HIV. Although the risk of acquiring the virus is high, only 27% of young Ethiopian women age 15 to 24 years old were tested and counseled for HIV. This coverage is...

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Main Authors: Yibeltal Alemu Bekele, Gedefaw Abeje Fekadu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228783
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author Yibeltal Alemu Bekele
Gedefaw Abeje Fekadu
author_facet Yibeltal Alemu Bekele
Gedefaw Abeje Fekadu
author_sort Yibeltal Alemu Bekele
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND:HIV counseling and testing are key to control and prevent the spread of the virus and improve the lives of people living with HIV. Although the risk of acquiring the virus is high, only 27% of young Ethiopian women age 15 to 24 years old were tested and counseled for HIV. This coverage is low to achieve the 90-90-90 goal. Identifying factors associated with low utilization of HIV testing and counseling services among young females (aged 15 to 24 years) is important to identify the barriers and improve uptake. Therefore, this analysis was done to identify factors associated with low utilization of HIV counseling and testing services among young Ethiopian women. METHODS:The study used the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data. The data was downloaded from The DHS program with permission. A total of 2661 young women (aged 15 to 24 years) were included in the final model. Data was weighted to consider disproportionate sampling and non-response. A Complex data management technique was applied to consider the complex sampling technique used in the DHS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with HIV testing among young women. RESULT:Among sexually active young women, 33.5% (95%CI; 30.1, 37.1) were tested for HIV. Young women who attended primary ((AOR 2.8; (95% CI; 2.0, 3.9)), secondary (AOR 4.7; (95% CI; 3.1, 7.3)) or higher education (AOR; 5.6; 95% CI; 2.6, 12.0), those who had multiple sexual partners (AOR 5.5; 95% (CI; 1.3, 23.3)), young women who ever used alcohol (AOR 1.46; 95% (CI; 1.1, 2.0)) and young women who visited health care facilities (AOR 1.8; (95% CI; 1.4, 2.3)) had higher odds of being tested for HIV. On the other hand, young women from the rural areas had lower odds (AOR 0.5; (95% CI; 0.3, 0.7)) of being tested for HIV. CONCLUSION:HIV testing among sexually active young women in Ethiopia was low. Educational status, place of residence, alcohol intake, number of sexual partners and visiting health facility 12 months before the survey were found significant predictors of HIV testing. Therefore, the Ethiopian government should encourage girls to complete secondary education to improve HIV testing and counseling. Young women should be encouraged to visit health facilities to improve HIV testing service uptake.
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spelling doaj.art-278529efcc6545e3b9d830a451d0b6d42022-12-21T20:46:49ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-01152e022878310.1371/journal.pone.0228783Factors associated with HIV testing among young females; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.Yibeltal Alemu BekeleGedefaw Abeje FekaduBACKGROUND:HIV counseling and testing are key to control and prevent the spread of the virus and improve the lives of people living with HIV. Although the risk of acquiring the virus is high, only 27% of young Ethiopian women age 15 to 24 years old were tested and counseled for HIV. This coverage is low to achieve the 90-90-90 goal. Identifying factors associated with low utilization of HIV testing and counseling services among young females (aged 15 to 24 years) is important to identify the barriers and improve uptake. Therefore, this analysis was done to identify factors associated with low utilization of HIV counseling and testing services among young Ethiopian women. METHODS:The study used the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data. The data was downloaded from The DHS program with permission. A total of 2661 young women (aged 15 to 24 years) were included in the final model. Data was weighted to consider disproportionate sampling and non-response. A Complex data management technique was applied to consider the complex sampling technique used in the DHS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with HIV testing among young women. RESULT:Among sexually active young women, 33.5% (95%CI; 30.1, 37.1) were tested for HIV. Young women who attended primary ((AOR 2.8; (95% CI; 2.0, 3.9)), secondary (AOR 4.7; (95% CI; 3.1, 7.3)) or higher education (AOR; 5.6; 95% CI; 2.6, 12.0), those who had multiple sexual partners (AOR 5.5; 95% (CI; 1.3, 23.3)), young women who ever used alcohol (AOR 1.46; 95% (CI; 1.1, 2.0)) and young women who visited health care facilities (AOR 1.8; (95% CI; 1.4, 2.3)) had higher odds of being tested for HIV. On the other hand, young women from the rural areas had lower odds (AOR 0.5; (95% CI; 0.3, 0.7)) of being tested for HIV. CONCLUSION:HIV testing among sexually active young women in Ethiopia was low. Educational status, place of residence, alcohol intake, number of sexual partners and visiting health facility 12 months before the survey were found significant predictors of HIV testing. Therefore, the Ethiopian government should encourage girls to complete secondary education to improve HIV testing and counseling. Young women should be encouraged to visit health facilities to improve HIV testing service uptake.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228783
spellingShingle Yibeltal Alemu Bekele
Gedefaw Abeje Fekadu
Factors associated with HIV testing among young females; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.
PLoS ONE
title Factors associated with HIV testing among young females; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.
title_full Factors associated with HIV testing among young females; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.
title_fullStr Factors associated with HIV testing among young females; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.
title_full_unstemmed Factors associated with HIV testing among young females; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.
title_short Factors associated with HIV testing among young females; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data.
title_sort factors associated with hiv testing among young females further analysis of the 2016 ethiopian demographic and health survey data
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228783
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