Abstract
BackgroundHIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a crucial gateway to all strategies related to care, prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Nevertheless, utilization of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) service among adults is very low in Ethiopia. The objective of this study is to identify determinants associated with VCT utilization among adult women aged 15–49 in Ethiopia.MethodsA cross–sectional study was conducted based on data taken from the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) 2016. Using cluster sampling, 14,369 women aged 15–49 years were selected from all the nine administrative regions and two city administrations. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with HIV VCT utilization.ResultsOverall prevalence of ever tested for HIV was 53% (95% CI, 52, 54). Aged 20–44, ever married, being at higher socio economic position (SEP) and having risky sexual behavior were factors which are positively associated with VCT utilization. Being Muslims in urban and protestants in rural were factors significantly and negatively associated with VCT utilization. Those who had stigmatizing attitude both in urban and rural and who had comprehensive knowledge in rural were less likely to utilize VCT service.ConclusionVCT utilization among women in Ethiopia is demonstrating better improvement in recent years. However, stigmatizing attitude continued to be among the major factors, which are negatively affecting VCT uptake among women in Ethiopia. Concerted efforts should be made by all stakeholders to mitigate stigma, improve socio economic inequities and increase awareness on the benefit of VCT in controlling HIV in the society. In this aspect, the role of religious leader, schools, health extension workers and community leaders should not be undermined.
Highlights
HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a crucial gateway to all strategies related to care, prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
Eighty percent of the study participants reported that they knew a place where they could get tested for HIV
The initiation of affordable and effective medical care for people living with HIV/ADIS (PLWHA) might have increased the demand of individuals for HIV
Summary
HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a crucial gateway to all strategies related to care, prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Utilization of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) service among adults is very low in Ethiopia. HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is a gateway to all systems of AIDS-related care [3, 4]. According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation, HIV screening should be done for all patients aged 13 to 64 years in all health care settings, including hospital emergency departments, urgent care clinics, inpatient services, sexually transmitted disease clinics, tuberculosis clinics, and primary care offices after informed consent is obtained [5, 6]. According to data analyzed from Demographic and Health survey of 15 sub-Saharan
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