FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV/AIDS COUNSELING AND TESTING IN KANUNGU DISTRICT. A CASE STUDY OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study is to find out factors associated with HIV/AIDS counseling and

testing among students in Great lakes Regional College Kanungu. The s·tudy was guided

by three objectives, namely; to establish the socio- economic factor associated with

HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, to examine the demographic factors associated with

HIV/AIDS counseling and to identify health services factors associat,;d with HIV/AIDS

counseling and testing among students in tertiary institutions.

The study was conducted in three tertiary institutions m Kanungu district in Kihihi

polytechnic, Nyakatare technical institute and great lakes regional college. The study

used a cross section descriptive survey design. The researcher selected 100 students from

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three tertiary institutions and 10 counselors from health centre JV s. The main instruments

for data collection were questionnaires and interviews. After data collection, data were

summarized and presented in table in form of frequencies and percentages. Data were

analyzed on the basis of the themes of the study guided by objectives of the study.

Among other things, the study found out that majority of the respondents (students) who

participated in the study, were aged between 26 - 36 were in their l '1 Year. It was :il,o

found out that majority students have heard about HIV/AIDS Counseling and testing but

very few have been tested for HIV. The findings also show that sttidents have access to

HIV/AIDS counseling and testing services but they are not using them. The study

findings further show that students in tertiary institutions negative attitudes towards

HIV/AIDS. It was also found out that stigma is the main factor hindering HIV/AIDS

counseling and testing among students in tertiary institutions.

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The study among other things concluded that students in te1iiary institutions in Kanungu

district do not go for HIV/AIDS counseling and therefore majority do not know their HIV

status. It is also concluded that stigma associated with having HIV/AIDS is a main factor

limiting students from tertiary institutions in Kamingu district from accepting HIV/AIDS

counseling and testing. The study recommends that students in tertiary institutions be

sensitized to accept HIV/AIDS counseling an3 testing to remove the negative attitudes

_that are associated with it.