HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing: knowledge, attitude and practice among University of Lagos undergraduates

Abstract

Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is widely recognized as a critical strategy in the global fight against the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The main objective of this study investigate "HIV/Voluntary Counseling and Testing: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among the University of Lagos Undergraduates. Specific objectives investigated the relationship between the level of awareness and usage of VCT, determined the relationship between religion and attitude to VCT, established the relationship between religion and attitude to VCT, and ascertained the relationship between age and usage of VCT. 150 respondents were chosen by simple random and accidental sampling, and data were collected by administering questionnaires to them. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 was used for analysis. The results revealed that the majority of participants (63.3%) had heard about Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and that the mass media was the primary source of information, followed by friends, colleagues, seminars, and educational institutions. A small percentage of respondents (22.2%) had undergone VCT based on recommendations. The majority of participants believed that those who have undergone VCT may be perceived as being HIV-positive or promiscuous. The results of this study have implications for counseling by way of expanding the number of accessible centers and stepping up VCT campaigns, and education.