UTILISATION OF HIV COUSELLING AND TESTING SERVICES AMONG FEMALE ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN IKORODU, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Young people especially females are more vulnerable to HIV infection and are at high risk of new HIV infections due to differential exposure to sexual violence, early marriage, gender inequalities, peer pressures amongst others. However, utilisation of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) service remains low among young people despite its effectiveness in prevention of HIV transmission and linkage to treatment for infected individuals. Hence this study aimed at determining the prevalence of HCT service utilisation, perception of barriers/facilitators of HCT service utilisation and factors influencing HCT service utilisation among female adolescents and young women in lkorodu, Lagos State. This study was a cross-sectional survey using a multi-stage sampling technique to select 404 female adolescents and young women aged 15-24 years resident in Ikorodu, Lagos State. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on knowledge of HIV/ AIDS, perceived risk of HIV infection, sexual practices and HIV-related behaviours, benefits of HCT service utilisation, perceived barriers and facilitators to HCT service utilisation. Descriptive statistics, Chi square and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data and level of significance was set at p < 0.05. The mean age of the respondents was 19.3 ±2.6 years. Many (52.9%) were between 15 and 19 years, 277 (68.6%) were Christians and a majority, 90.1% and 91.6% were single and Yoruba respectively. Only 48 (11.9%) had a good knowledge of HIV/AIDS while majority (368, 91.1%) perceived themselves at low or no risk of HIV infection and 167 (41.3%) were sexually active. Majority: (289, 71.5%) had a high knowledge of the benefits of HCT service utilisation. Just above half (55.2%) knew where the service can be assessed in their locality, most of whom (65.9%) knew a secondary health facility in Ikorodu offering HCT. Only 148 (36.6%) had ever utilised HCT service with 60 (40.5%) of them being adolescents (15-19 years). Amongst those that had ever utilised HCT service, 89 (60.1%) did so less than 12 months before the study while only 50 (33.8%)- initiated demand for testing by themselves. Isolation of HCT service, fear of stigmatisation and unavailability of access to treatment were identified by majority as barriers to HCT service utilisation. Age, level of education, persons living with, LCDA of residence, awareness of HCT centre, awareness of service utilisation by friends/family members, sexual activity were significantly associated with utilisation of HCT service (p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that awareness of HCT centre (AOR: 4.08, 95% CI: 2.52-6.60), high perceived risk of. HIV infection (AOR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.10-5.17) and sexual activeness (AOR:1.86;95% CI: 1.09-3.18) significantly predicted utilisation of HCT service. Findings from this study revealed that client initiated HCT service utilisation is still low. The study also provides evidence that emphasis should be placed on the availability of HCT cehties in localities, sensitization on the risk of HIV infection and integration of HCT service with other health services in order to encourage HCT service utilisation among female adolescents and young women.