KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARDS VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING FOR HIV AMONG YOUTHS SEEKING HEALTHCARE AT KAJJANSI HEALTH CENTRE IV, WAKISO DISTRICT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/bdqwer70Keywords:
Voluntary Counselling and Testing, Youths, HIV, Health careAbstract
Background:
Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV among youths who sought health care at Kajjansi Health Center IV, Wakiso district.
Methodology:
This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional study design and quantitative methods. The respondents were selected using Simple random sampling. An interview method was used to collect data from the respondents and a researcher administered questionnaires.
Results:
66% of the respondents were male while 34% were female. (50%) were between 25 - 29 years old. All respondents, (100%) were aware of VCT. (95%) defined it as the willingness to go for an HIV test after deciding on one’s own. (84%) of the study, participants knew its importance before testing. (80%) got information from health workers, 72% of the respondents reported that, it enabled one to know their HIV status and start treatment if found positive. 60% of respondents had ever attended HIV/VCT services before. In the attitude assessment, 75% were interested in being tested for HIV/AIDS but they had limited information about HIV/VCT services. (67%) would recommend fellow youths for HIV/VCT services. 15% of the youths had never had any HIV/VCT counseling services before. (67%) had tested for HIV at least once
Conclusion:
The study revealed that youths had a high Knowledge of HIV/VCT services. The majority understand VCT as willingly receiving information on HIV/AIDS and getting tested, having a negative attitude towards HIV/VCT services, and having low practice towards HIV/VCT services.
Recommendations:
The government through the Ministry of Health and district health teams should open up more VCT centers in rural areas and equip them, train more health workers and teachers in HIV/VCT services, and organize mobile HIV /VCT health camps in schools and communities to disseminate more information.
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