CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the causative organism of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is Africa's biggest cause of mortality and the continent's largest economic and social burden. This pandemic is a one-of-a-kind threat to mankind since it impacts all sectors, renders groups susceptible, and spreads from villages to state capitals and worldwide commercial capitals (World Bank, 2015). Since the first recorded instance of HIV infection in 1986, the Nigerian government and the relevant organized private sector have been dealing with a considerable surge in the epidemic. In response to this terrifying menace, the country has taken proactive efforts and set national rules targeted at halting this detrimental tendency.

Since the discovery of HIV/AIDS, several World Health Organizations have reported worrying rises in the virus's and syndrome's prevalence rates, particularly among adolescents and youths. Half of newly HIV-infected people are about 15,000. 6,000 every day, and they are mostly teenagers, under which students fall. This frightening rate of HIV/AIDS transmission also includes Nigeria, where around 5.4 percent of individuals (ages 15-49) are infected. This data is concerning, and it necessitates a determined and expanded effort to combat this tendency. Individuals must be aware of their state in order to effectively combat the virus's spread. Various techniques have been devised to mitigate the virus's impact and reverse its spread. Provider-Initiated Counselling and Testing (PICT), HIV newborn and young child diagnosis, family care and partner testing, condom promotion and distribution, focused intervention for sex workers and homosexuals, male circumcision, and volunteer HIV/AIDS screening are among these initiatives (Addis et al, 2016).           Among all of these measures, voluntary HIV screening has been universally acknowledged as a successful strategy for HIV prevention and treatment (Human Development Report, 2004). Voluntary HIV screening has been found as a successful strategy for treating opportunistic illnesses such as TB and prophylaxis, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral medication, and psychological support for affected people (Hogan & Salomen, 2020). It assists people with learning their status and in making relevant behavioral changes, as well as in reducing unsafe sex and the transmission of other STIs. This is true for the overall population as well as for specific populations such as tertiary students, including undergraduates. HIV voluntary testing is a procedure in which an individual freely agrees to undergo an HIV test and, before to the test, is coached, with the goal of helping the client to manage with stress and make personal decisions about HIV/AIDS. Counseling is done to prevent additional HIV transmission and to provide psychosocial assistance to persons who are affected. Following the counseling, an HIV antibody test is performed to determine the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood, followed by post-test counseling based on the test results.

According to research, student attitudes regarding HIV voluntary testing are a critical component in determining the HIV status of a community in a country like Nigeria, which is listed as having poor levels of understanding about safe sex and HIV. For example, students who adopt a negative attitude toward voluntary testing are clear proof that their understanding of HIV/AIDS is inadequate. As a result, there is an urgent need for vigorous advocacy for voluntary counseling and testing, and all undergraduates should strive to actively participate in voluntary HIV testing, which will aid in reducing the rising number of HIV transmissions (Adesoji 2019).

In the current state of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, voluntary counseling and testing is critical, especially among students, who are viewed as a susceptible demographic and are continually impacted by the environment in which they live, particularly among their peers. As a result, this research is necessary to investigate the attitude of undergraduates at the University of Lagos about HIV voluntary testing.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Since the discovery of this killer virus, studies have showed a terrifying increase in the incidence rates of the virus and illness, particularly among adolescents and young people. This frightening rate of HIV infection and AIDS expansion also includes Nigeria, where 5.4 percent of people (ages 15-49) are infected with HIV and have AIDS (Nchube 2019).

Students in higher institutions may not benefit from broad interventions due to their unique status. The university setting gives several possibilities for risky sexual practices, typically with multiple partners, injection-based drug misuse, and often unprotected intercourse (Tasalem 2019). Furthermore, students in tertiary institutions range in age from 16 to 49 years old, representing a sizable number of HIV/AIDS patients (Federal Ministry of Health, 2022). Furthermore, students have an abundance of power and youthful vigor, which predisposes them to excessive sexual activity. It is therefore vital to assess their willingness to undergo HIV/AIDS screening, since this would help to promote safe and focused intervention options. It is against this background that this study is investigating undergraduate students’ interest towards HIV screening specifically in University of Uy, Akwaibom State.

1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY .

The broad objective of the study is to examine attitude of undergraduate students towards HIV voluntary counseling and testing. Other specific objectives include:

i.          To investigate whether university of Uyo student are knowledgeable on HIV voluntary counseling and testing.

ii.        To ascertain the perception  of  undergraduate students towards HIV voluntary counseling and testing.

iii.      To establish whether  University of Uyo student  are aware of  where to access VCT Centres

iv.      To determine University of Uyo student  consider VCT as useful in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research is guided by the following questions in line with the objectives:

i.          Are university of Uyo student knowledgeable on HIV voluntary counseling and testing?

ii.        What is the  perception of undergraduate students towards HIV voluntary counseling and testing?

iii.      Arr University of Uyo student  aware of  where to access voluntary counseling and testing Centres?

iv.      Does University of Uyo student  consider VCT as useful in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS?

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