Abstract
In Ghana, efforts including 'Know Your Status' campaign have been made to increase awareness and improve the uptake of HIV screening. This study examined the acceptance and utilization of the HIV/AIDS 'Know Your Status' campaign and determine dthe differences in HIV testing by demographic characteristics among the youth in Techiman, Ghana. This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among the youth aged 15-24 years. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 200 purposively selected respondents. The mean age of the respondents was 19.6±2.72 years. There was a universal awareness (100%) of HIV/AIDs, and were knowledgeable about the mode of transmission, symptoms and the prevention of HIV. A high proportion of the respondents (n=161, 80.5%) had heard about the 'Know Your Status' (KYS) campaign. Less than half of respondents (n=91, 45.5%) had tested for HIV, and only 16.5% (n=15/91) of respondents tested through the KYS campaign. Testing for HIV was associated with age (p<0.001) and marital status (p<0.001). The youth should therefore be targeted in the awareness and the 'Know Your Status campaigns', and in an effortsto promote screening for HIV.
Highlights
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causing Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is still a key public health problem, causing over 35 million deaths worldwide[1] since the beginning of the pandemic
The Ministry of Health through its agencies including the Ghana Health Service, Ghana AIDS Commission and the National HIV/AIDS Control Program has over the years engaged in campaigns aimed at awareness creation and sensitization; as it has been recognized that with the absence of a vaccine and cure, prevention through raising awareness and sensitizing the populace is the paramount way of dealing with the HIV/AIDS deadly disease[11]
Our study revealed that marital status was found to be significantly related with the screening for HIV, which is consistent to what has been found in South Africa where women who were married were more likely having tested for HIV20
Summary
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causing Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is still a key public health problem, causing over 35 million deaths worldwide[1] since the beginning of the pandemic. Only 70% of people infected with HIV globally are aware of their status, well below the set target of 90%1. In Ghana, efforts including ‘Know Your Status’ campaign have been made to increase awareness and improve the uptake of HIV screening. Objective: This study examined the acceptance and utilization of the HIV/AIDS ‘Know Your Status’ campaign and determine dthe differences in HIV testing by demographic characteristics among the youth in Techiman, Ghana. Conclusion: The youth should be targeted in the awareness and the ‘Know Your Status campaigns’, and in an effortsto promote screening for HIV. Acceptance and utilization of HIV testing among the youth: a cross-sectional study in Techiman, Ghana.
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