Factors associated with HIV self‑testing among female university students in Uganda: a cross‑sectional study

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dc.contributor.authorSegawa, Ivan
dc.contributor.authorBakeera‑Kitaka, Sabrina
dc.contributor.authorSsebambulidde, Kenneth
dc.contributor.authorMuwonge, Timothy R.
dc.contributor.authorOriokot, Lorraine
dc.contributor.authorOuma Ojiambo, Kevin
dc.contributor.authorMujugira, Andrew
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-07T19:22:07Z
dc.date.available2023-02-07T19:22:07Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractAdolescent girls and young women (AGYW) at institutions of higher learning are at high risk of HIV, and conventional HIV testing services may not reach them sufficiently. HIV self-testing (HIVST) scalability can be informed by identifying AGYW who have used or are interested in using HIVST. We aimed to determine factors associated with use and willingness to use HIVST among female university students. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 483 female students at Makerere University, Uganda. Proportions of students who have used or are willing to use HIVST and their associated factors were determined. Modified Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The median age of the participants was 22 (Interquartile range [IQR] 21–23) years, and 21% had never tested for HIV. Over 93% were willing to utilize HIVST, and 19% had ever used HIV self-test kits. Increasing age (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.23 per year, 95% CI 1.07–1.43) was significantly associated with HIVST use. Predictors of willingness to self-test for HIV were college type (arts vs. science-based, aPR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88–0.97), number of sexual partners (one, aPR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03–1.12 or ≥ 2, aPR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.19, vs. none), alcohol (aPR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00–1.09) or injection drug (aPR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00–1.09) use, a history of sexually transmitted infections in past 12 months (aPR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09), and HIV testing experience (tested in past 12 months, aPR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02–1.22 or over 12 months, aPR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.24, vs. never tested). Conclusion: HIVST was highly acceptable despite its limited use. This study demonstrates female student characteristics that can be leveraged to scale up HIVST programs in higher institutions of learning.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSegawa, I., Bakeera-Kitaka, S., Ssebambulidde, K., Muwonge, T. R., Oriokot, L., Ojiambo, K. O., & Mujugira, A. (2022). Factors associated with HIV self-testing among female university students in Uganda: a cross-sectional study. AIDS Research and Therapy, 19(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-022-00484-xen_US
dc.identifier.issnhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-022-00484-x
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/7636
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherAIDS Research and Therapyen_US
dc.subjectWomenen_US
dc.subjectUniversitiesen_US
dc.subjectHIVen_US
dc.subjectSelf-testingen_US
dc.subjectHIV testingen_US
dc.subjectStudentsen_US
dc.titleFactors associated with HIV self‑testing among female university students in Uganda: a cross‑sectional studyen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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