Factors Affecting Utilization Of Voluntary Counselling And Testing Services: Comparison Between Public Boys’ And Girls’ Secondary Schools In Nairobi County.

ABSTRACT

HIV and AIDS is one of the biggest threats to global health and stability. UNAIDS estimated that there were 33.3 million people living with HIV at the end of 2009. In 2009, there were an estimated 2.6 million people who became newly infected with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of new HIV infections continue to occur, an estimated 1.8 million people became infected in the same year; Individuals in their most productive years (15-49 years old) are most commonly infected with HIV and AIDS, the disease has a wide socioeconomic impact that threatens development progress in many poor countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV prevalence in girls aged 15 to 19 years old is six times higher than in boys of the same age group. VCT services act as entry point for behaviour formation, behaviour change and care and support in HIV prevention. The broad objective of this study was to determine knowledge, access and factors affecting utilization of VCT services among secondary school students in public schools in Nairobi County. Data was collected using pretested questionnaires. Reliability of the data collection instrument was established using the internal consistency technique. Data was analyzed using SPSS software and presented in bar graphs, pie charts, percentages and measures of central tendency. 2x2 contingency tables, correlation analysis and chi-square statistics were used to test the hypotheses. The respondents were aged between 13 – 20 years. The mean age was 16.2 years. Of the 385 respondents, 213 were females representing 55.3%. Having heard of VCT was closely associated to knowing the function of VCT (χ2 (df=1) =9.214, p≤0.002). Students in boarding schools were more likely to know the meaning of HIV (χ2 (df=3) =55.614, p≤0.023) and generally more knowledgeable. Only 18.2% had ever been to a VCT. Students in day schools who knew how HIV is spread were more likely to have gone to VCT to know their status (χ2 (df=3) =16.340, p ≤. 0.003). There is a significant difference in sexual activeness of students with school type (χ2 (df=3) =84.11, p