Determinants of Willingness to Undertake HIV/AIDS Testing Among University Students. Acase Study of the Faculty of Science and Education Busitema University
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Date
2026-07-09
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Abstract
Although there is an increase in the provision of HIV/AIDS testing services, the utilization of
HIV/AIDS testing services among university students in Uganda has not reached the set national
targets. This study aimed at identifying the factors influencing the willingness to undergo
HIV/AIDS testing among undergraduate students of the Faculty of Science and Education in
Busitema University. Specifically, this study aimed at investigating the awareness of HIV/AIDS
testing services, the attitudes toward HIV/AIDS tests and the factors influencing the willingness
to test among others. The study applied the cross-sectional study design in which the primary data
was collected electronically from a random sample of 300 undergraduate students through the
Cochran's formula, using a mixed questionnaire via KoboToolbox. Analysis was carried out using
three techniques which are univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. Statistical significance
of relationship between the variables was determined by using the Pearson Chi-Square test. Binary
Logistic regression was also used to establish predictors of willingness to undergo test for
HIV/AIDS. Based on the results obtained, it is evident that 51% of the participants were males
while 49% were females and 75.67% of them were not employed. In respect to bivariate analysis,
it was concluded that there was statistically significant relationship between willingness to test and
knowledge about HIV, awareness about HIV testing, sensitization and multiple sexual partners
(p<0.05). No statistically significant relationship existed between age, gender, religion, year of
study, use of condoms, employment status, distance to the nearest health facility and availability
of health services. In respect to multivariate analysis, it was determined that awareness about HIV
testing services (OR=20.669, p<0.001) and multiple sexual partners (OR=0.259, p<0.05) were
statistically significant predictors where OR indicates that the chances of being willing to test for
HIV/AIDS among students having multiple sexual partners was 74%. From the results presented
in this study, it can be inferred that demographic factors are not indicators of willingness to test
for HIV infection amongst the university students. However, awareness and risky sexual practices
affect the willingness to get tested for HIV. Therefore, it is suggested that the university should
collaborate with the Ministry of Health to organize awareness programs for the unmarried sexually
active university student