Marseille 2007
| Abstract #577 - Demand for HIV testing among young people in Botswana: trends and psychosocial determinants | ||||
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Session: 26.81: Posters B (Poster) on Tuesday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Negussie Wordofa - BOTUSA Project, Botswana |
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| Aim: Between 2000 and 2004, there was a 5-fold increase in the number of people who sought counseling and testing services in Botswana. In 2004 alone 75,000 clients received HIV testing in VCT centers and 50,000 more were tested in public health facilities through the routine testing system. Young people aged 15-24 years made up more than 30% of all Tebelopele clients each year between 2000 and 2004. This paper analyzes the trend and psychosocial determinants of demand for HIV counseling and test services among young people aged 15-24 year in Botswana. | ||||
| Method / Issue: We used data from the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS) II, a nationally representative survey conducted in 2004. Comparisons were made with data from BAIS I that was conducted in 2001 to look into the trend of HIV testing. A total of 1,357and 4,267 young people aged 15-24 year were included in the analysis from BAIS I & II datasets respectively | ||||
| Results / Comments: There was more than 60% increase in the percentage of young people who reported seeking voluntary counseling and testing for HIV infection between the two surveys (OR=1.64; 95% CI=1.39, 1.94). Substantial increase was noted among females, the 20-24 years age group, those with secondary and above level of education and young people living in sexual cohabitation. After controlling for the effect of age, sex, and educational level in BAIS II data, young people with non-stigmatizing attitude about HIV/AIDS reported higher frequency of testing for HIV infection (OR=3.64; 95% = 1.59, 8.3). Knowledge of someone with AIDS (OR=2.6; 95% CI=2.23, 3.02) or someone who died of AIDS (OR=2.72; 95% CI = 2.36, 3.15) were strongly associated with the likelihood of seeking test for HIV infection. A belief that healthy looking people might have HIV infection was also associated with higher chances of testing for HIV infection (OR=1.84; 95% CI=1.39; 2.44). | ||||
| Discussion: Marked increase in demand for HIV testing was noted among young people. Better understanding on the level of HIV risk, self-belief in minimizing it and less stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV/AIDS enhanced demand for voluntary counseling and testing. Findings were explained in line with the health belief model to outline the program implications for young people in Botswana. | ||||
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