HIV self-testing and its associated factors among nursing and medical university students: A cross-sectional study in EasternUganda

The uptake of HIV testing services is sub-optimal among young people. HIV self-testing (HIVST) offers opportunities to improve the uptake of HIV testing services among young people. The study was conducted to determine preferences for HIVST, its uptake, and the factors associated with uptake of HIVST among young adults. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional design. Data collection was done using self-administered questionnaires. We interviewed 384 university students and collected information about their HIV testing practices and preferences. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with HIVST among young people. The study obtained ethical clearance from a Research and Ethics Committee. The median age of the participants was 24 (interquartile range: 22–28). Uptake of HIVST was 55% among participants. A similar proportion (56%) of young people preferred HIVST over facility-based HIV testing in the future. Privacy (46%), confidentiality (7%), and convenience (32%) were the most common reasons given for preference for HIVST. Participants, who preferred health facility-based HIV testing, cited the need for counselling services (21%) and the perceived accuracy and credibility (59%) of results from health facility-based testing. HIVST was significantly associated with increasing age (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80–0.98), the fourth year of study (AOR = 2.90, 95% CI:1.01–8.31), students of anaesthesia program (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI:0.17–0.95), Muslim religion (AOR = 0. 07, 95% CI:0.01–0.41), consistent use of condoms (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.15–0.88), and having multiple sexual partners (AOR = 3.22, 95% CI:1.49-7.00). Young people preferred HIVST over health facility-based testing because of privacy, confidentiality, and convenience. Addressing concerns about the accuracy of test results from HIVST and the need for counseling services may improve the uptake of HIVST among young people.