Perception of High School Students towards Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing, using Health Belief Model in Butajira, SNNPR

Background: Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV is one of the strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention, and yet, there is very little information on what influences the services in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the perception and attitude of students towards VCT services using the Health Belief Model. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in January 2006, among Butajira senior secondary school students where a multi stage sampling method was used. Results: About ninety seven percent of the students had heard about VCT services but less than one fifth of them had undergone VCT. Eighty two percent of the students were willing to undergo VCT. It was shown that willingness to VCT was significantly associated with perceived susceptibility [AOR=0.37(0.28, 0.89)], perceived barrier [AOR= 0.45 (0.23, 0.89)] and perceived benefit [AOR=1.79 (1.44, 2.49)]. Conclusions: The majority of students had heard about VCT and revealed willingness to undergo VCT. High perceived susceptibility and barriers were associated with low willingness to undergo VCT. On the other hand, students with high perceived benefits showed better willingness to undergo VCT. It is recommended that messages onVCT give emphasis on personal susceptibility to HIV/AIDS and benefits of VCT

Differentials of fertility in North and South Gondar zones, northwest Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ethiopia is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa with an estimated population of 77.1 million in mid-2007. Uncontrolled fertility has adversely influenced the socio-economic, demographic and environmental situations of the country. It is one of the largest and poorest countries that, even in the midst of crisis, has maintained high levels of fertility. This study was aimed at investigating the most important factors influencing fertility behavior in Northwest Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A comparative cross-sectional study which included 2424 women aged 25 years and above was undertaken in the Amhara region of Northwest Ethiopia. The study subjects were grouped into high fertile and low fertile categories. There were 1011 and 1413 women in the high and low fertile groups, respectively. A multi-stage cluster sampling stratified by place of residence was employed to select the required study subjects. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to analyze the data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the 25 variables considered in this study, only 9 of them were found significantly and independently associated with the level of fertility. Women with at least secondary education were at a lower risk of high fertility with OR = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.21 to 0.64) compared to those with no formal education. However, women with primary education did not show any significant difference when compared with the same baseline group. Age at first marriage was inversely associated with the number of children ever born alive. Place of residence, household expenditure, number of children who have died, attitude towards using contraceptives, women's knowledge on the safe period, and current marital status were the other variables that showed significant associations with the level of fertility.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Female education beyond the primary level, reduced infant and child mortality, delayed marriage and correct knowledge on the safe period during the menstrual cycle were amongst the main factors that had a bearing on high fertility.</p