Abstract
Introduction: Young adults including university students are at high risk of acquiring HIV due to their risky sexual practices and the recent emergence of rising HIV epidemic in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess Sero-prevalence of HIV and associated factors among students of Debre Berhan University. Method: Institution based Cross sectional study design was employed. Sample size was determined using Epi Info version 3.4 which is 580. A combination of stratified and simple random sampling technique was carried out to allocate the sample. Data was collected by self-administered questionnaire and blood sample for HIV screening was taken. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 16. 95% C.I was used to determine the associated factors of risky sexual behavior and P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Result: The HIV Sero-prevalence among the students was 0.36%. Among 557 participants, 140 (25.13%) reported having at least one risky sexual behavior in their lifetime. Participants, 140 (25.13%) reported having at least one risky sexual behavior in their lifetime. Cigarette smoking and pornography exposure shows significant association with risky sexual behavior. Therefore, this study suggested that HIV Sero-prevalence and risky sexual behavior among the students is relatively high and needs urgent interventions.
Highlights
Young adults including university students are at high risk of acquiring Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) due to their risky sexual practices and the recent emergence of rising HIV epidemic in Ethiopia
A total of 557 study subjects were participated in the study with 96 % of response rate
Risky sexual behaviors The mean age of sexual initiation (18.1 years) were comparable with other studies done among youths in Haramaya University (HU), MadaWalabu University (MWU), Dire Dawa town and Addis Abeba University (AAU) students [6,7,8,9]
Summary
The aim of this study was to assess Sero-prevalence of HIV and associated factors among students of Debre Berhan University. 95% C.I was used to determine the associated factors of risky sexual behavior and P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. This study suggested that HIV Sero-prevalence and risky sexual behavior among the students is relatively high and needs urgent interventions. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection has been one of the top health related challenges for the past three decades. This is especially imperative for the African nations which bear 67% of the world's HIV/AIDS burden (World Health Organization WHO, 2010). Risky sexual behaviors contribute to the high HIV prevalence in Africa. Certain aspects of social life place members of higher education institutions are at risk of contracting with HIV. Commercial sex may not be uncommon as poor students seek to earn money to pay for personal upkeep [1]
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