title: Knowledge, attitude and practice towards voluntary counseling and testing among university students in North West Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is one among different approaches which have been implemented as an attempt to slow the spread of HIV infection and minimize its impact at the individual, family and society level. VCT is perceived to be an effective strategy in risk reduction among sexually active young people like tertiary level students. Ethiopia as a country with high burden of HIV started responding to the epidemic by preparing and updating guidelines on VCT. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV among university students in North West Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted from February to May 2010 using a stratified sampling method to enroll students from different faculties into the study. A total of 330 university students filled in a self-administered questionnaire with response rate of 97.3%. Main outcome measures included level of knowledge, attitude and practice of VCT for HIV. A chi-square test was used to determine an association between a number of independent factors and dependant variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 66.1% of the study participants were males with a mean age of 20 years. Majority (75.6%) of the respondents were Orthodox with 63% reported living in urban areas before joining the university. From the study participants 86.3% were knowledgeable on VCT, 73.3% had positive attitude towards VCT for HIV and 61.8% had had VCT for HIV in the past. Previous residence before joining the university, level of education, sex and religion were among the sociodemographic variables that showed statistically significant association with the one or more of the outcome variables. Fear of positive results, stigma and discrimination following the positive results were reported as main barriers for VCT uptake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings reveal important barriers for VCT uptake and suggest strategies to reduce stigma and discrimination.
authors.affiliation: University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Science, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, P,O, Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. zelalemaddis@ymail.com.
authors.forename: Zelalem
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Addis
authors.forename: Aregawi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yalew
authors.forename: Yitayal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.forename: Abebe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alemu
authors.forename: Wubet
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Birhan
authors.forename: Biniam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mathewose
authors.forename: Belayenesh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tachebele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012737:Sex Factors; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000517:prevention & control; D057545:Social Stigma; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D035141:Voluntary Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
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