Compliance and approach to voluntary HIV testing in a high-risk region for HIV transmission in Europe.

Autor:	Milic M; Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia., Dotlic J; Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia., Stevanovic J; Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia., Mitic K; Program Coordinator of the Emergency Relief Project 'Solidarity', SOS Children's Villages Serbia., Nicholson D; Department of Regional Health Services Region Five, Ministry of Public Health, Georgetown, Guyana., Karanovic A; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia., Vujacic A; School of Dentistry, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia., Gazibara T; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	African health sciences [Afr Health Sci] 2022 Dec; Vol. 22 (4), pp. 488-501.
DOI:	10.4314/ahs.v22i4.55
Abstrakt:	Background: The Kosovo province is being considered as a high-risk region for the spread of HIV. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with HIV testing in a sample of university students from the Serbian northern Kosovo province. Material and Methods: A questionnaire examining socio-demographic characteristics, HIV-related knowledge, attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) and HIV testing was used in data collection. A total of 1,017 students from the University of Priština temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica completed the questionnaire. Results: Only 5.4% of students have previously been tested for HIV, even though the majority (70.9%) had a positive approach to HIV testing. Factors associated with having been tested for HIV were being male and younger, having interest in HIV testing and having previous contact with PLHIV. Being more knowledgeable about HIV and having stronger positive attitude towards PLHIV, being older, receiving information about HIV through friends and special educational programs, using condom at last sexual intercourse, having positive opinion on gays/lesbians and previous contact with PLHIV were associated with positive approach to HIV testing. Conclusion: Having a positive approach to HIV testing does not suggest that students would take the HIV test. However, students who have low HIV-related knowledge, negative approach or lack of interest in HIV testing (believing that there is no need to take it) would likely never take the HIV test. Increasing HIV-related knowledge, acceptance of PLHIV and access to testing facilities should be public health priorities to raise HIV testing rates. Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. (© 2022 Milic M et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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