The Effect of HIV Related Risk Factors on HIV Status: A Case of Gamo-Gofa Free Standing Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center

Tesfahun Zewde Legisso

doi:10.11648/j.sjams.20180604.14

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is a major development concern in many countries and is destroying the lives and livelihoods of many people around the world. This study is aimed to assess the demographic and HIV related risk behavior factors that may affect HIV status of the visitors of VCT centers. A cross sectional study was conducted in Gamo-Gofa districts, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State of Ethiopia. A total of 4028 sample were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected with a designed questionnaire from 20 voluntary counseling and testing center of the districts. If the clients visit VCT center is HIV-infected, it is categorized as HIV positive and if the client test is indicated not HIV-infected, then the visitor categorized as HIV negative status. The Binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the data using the SPSS software. The results of the study revealed that the probability of an individual being HIV positive was 0.0286 and the predictor’s variables age, marriage status, education level, alcohol use, knowledge about HIV, monthly income, condom use and residence of the individual were significantly effect on being HIV-positive. Health professionals and responsible bodies should work on these significant variables to reduce the probability of being HIV positive.

Highlights

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which is believed to be caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been the major problem worldwide
The analysis shows that 2.86% of the respondents were HIV positive status and 97.14% were HIV negative status
The analysis revealed that 2.86 % individuals were infected by HIV

Summary

Introduction

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which is believed to be caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been the major problem worldwide. The rate of spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is still high. The expansion of the epidemic has become a burning issue globally and this is so more in developing countries [1]. Around 34 million people were living with HIV; 2.7 million new infections occurred and 1.8 million people [1.6 million–1.9 million] died from AIDS-related causes in 2010. The burden of the epidemic vary considerably between countries and regions, the Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most severely affected region accounting for nearly 68% of the people living with HIV worldwide.

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