Determinants of testing for HIV among young people in Uganda. A nested, explanatory-sequential study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Young people (15-24 years) account for over 30% of new global HIV infections.
• HIV testing is crucial for behavior change and linking individuals to care.
• HIV testing rates among youth in Uganda remain below national targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of HIV testing among young people in a peri-urban district of Uganda.
• To identify factors influencing HIV testing decisions and uptake in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A nested explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted from March to May 2019.
• Stratified cluster random sampling selected 650 young people (397 rural, 253 urban).
• Data collection involved questionnaires and in-depth interviews with 16 purposively selected participants.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of HIV testing among young people in the study area was 80.2%.
• Testing decisions were influenced by self-perceived risk and confidence in managing positive results.
• Barriers included perceived facility issues (distance, cost, judgmental staff), while mobile testing raised privacy concerns.

Conclusions:

• While HIV testing prevalence is relatively high for the region, it falls short of global targets.
• Community-based programs can address facility-related barriers but require enhancements for privacy and comfort.
• Addressing psychosocial factors and improving service delivery are key to increasing HIV testing among young people.