Predictors of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and uptake of HIV counselling and testing among undergraduate students at the North-West University, South Africa

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine predictors of HIV/AIDS knowledge and voluntary counselling and testing of undergraduate students in two campuses of the North-West University.The paper used cross-sectional data of 1,498 and 1,392 university students from Mafikeng and Potchefstroom Campuses. The major source of information on HIV/AIDS was through university programmes. At the Mafikeng Campus, 9 out of 10 undergraduate students had taken HIV test compared to 4 out of 10 at the Potchefstroom Campus. Age and level of education were found to be the main predictors of knowledge of HIV and uptake of voluntary counselling and testing, while race was a predictor of knowledge of HIV and uptake of VCT services among Potchefstroom undergraduate students. There is a need for males to take advantage of free VCT services in order to know their status. Also programmes should provide more detailed information related to HIV/AIDS prevention.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, HIV knowledge, HIV counselling,HIV testing, predictors