Risky sexual behaviours and HIV testing among young people in Ghana: evidence from the 2017/2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey

Abstract

Background: Young people have a higher chance of experimenting with sex before marriage, thus they engage in risky sexual behaviours that predispose them to HIV infections. The objective of this study was to assess the relation‑ ship between engaging in risky sexual behaviours and the uptake of HIV testing services among young people in Ghana. Methods: We analysed secondary data from the 2017/2018 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, which col‑ lected data on population and health indicators across the previous ten regions of Ghana, using a Computer Personal Assisted Interviewing application. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and Binomial Logis‑ tic regression. Results: Seventy-nine per cent (79%) of young women and 68% of young men did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse. In addition, 68% of young women and 87% of young men had not tested for HIV. Young women (AOR=2.19; 95% CI 1.56–3.07) and young men (AOR=3.38; 95% CI 1.18–9.64) aged 20–24 years had a higher likeli‑ hood of being tested for HIV compared to those aged 15–19 years. Young women with junior high school education (AOR=2.03; 95% CI 1.08–3.81) were more likely to test for HIV compared with those who had pre-primary/no formal education. In addition, young women who were never married or in a union (AOR=0.39; 95% CI 0.27–0.56) had 61% of reduced odds of being tested for HIV compared with those who were currently married or in a union. There was no signifcant association between risky sexual behaviours and HIV testing (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that condom use among sexually active young people was low. The uptake of HIV testing services was below expectation. Age, educational status, marital status and exposure to the mass media were the salient factors infuencing the uptake of HIV testing among young people. Stakeholders should implement interventions to help increase the uptake of HIV testing and condom use among young people in Ghana.