Correlates of uptake of HIV testing among children and young adolescents in Akwa- Ibom state, Nigeria: a secondary data analysis of the Akwa-Ibom aids indicator survey, 2017
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Pediatrics
Abstract
Background: In order to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, there is a need to significantly reduce the rate of new
infection among children and young adolescents. Identifying the correlates of testing behaviour is necessary to
improve HIV testing campaigns by refining messages that target individuals in this age group. The objective of this
study was to determine the correlates of HIV testing among children and young adolescents in Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria.
Methods: The outcome was a secondary data analysis of the 2017 Akwa-Ibom AIDS Indicator Survey. Data of 4037
children and young adolescents aged 0–14 years was assessed in this study. Analysis was done using STATA version
16. Chi-squared test and logistic regression models were used to measure association and its strength between
uptake of HIV testing and some independent variables (child/caregiver’s age, sex, educational status, child’s location,
caregiver’s knowledge of HIV and caregiver ever tested for HIV) at 5% significance level.
Results: Result showed that only 14.2% of the children and young adolescents have been tested for HIV. Previous
history of blood transfusion (AOR = 5.33, 95%C.I = 2.60–10.92, P = < 0.001), caregiver’s level of education (AOR = 2.67,
95%C.I = 1.30–5.51, P = 0.008) and caregiver ever tested for HIV (AOR = 8.31, 95%C.I = 5.67–12.19, P = < 0.001) were
significantly associated with uptake of HIV testing.
Conclusion: This study concludes that a large proportion of children and young adolescents in Akwa-Ibom state
have never been tested for HIV. There is a need for HIV testing interventions to be targeted towards this age
groups and their parents/guardian. Addressing the knowledge gap amongst caregivers especially in rural areas is
crucial towards improving the effectiveness of HIV testing interventions.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Children, Young adolescents, Caregivers, HIV, HIV testing, AIDS, Early infant diagnosis, Nigeria