HIV testing service utilization and its association with HIV-related knowledge among students in higher education institutions in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Journal of public health Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 603 - 612
• Main Authors: Alen, Gedefaw Diress, Addisu, Amanuel, Giza, Mastewal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Billboards; Capacity development; Capitation; Education; Epidemiology; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Heterogeneity; Higher education; Higher education institutions; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Institutions; Medical tests; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meta-analysis; Public Health; Review Article; Students; Supply chains; Systematic review; Utilization; Ethiopia; HIV testing; Higher education; HIV knowledge; Ethiopia
• ISSN: 2198-1833; 1613-2238
• DOI: 10.1007/s10389-021-01553-7

Aim To estimate the pooled prevalence of HIV testing service utilization and its association with HIV-related knowledge among students in higher education institutions in Ethiopia. Subjects and methods The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically reviewed for published articles on HIV testing or voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) service utilization among students in higher education institutions in Ethiopia. The Higgins I 2 test was used to assess the heterogeneity between the studies. A random-effects model was applied to determine the pooled prevalence of VCT service utilization. Result After reviewing 348 studies, 14 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled magnitude of VCT service utilization among students in higher education institutions in Ethiopia was 46.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.1, 56.9). The odds of VCT service utilization were 2.6 times as high among students who had good HIV-related knowledge as those who had poor HIV-related knowledge (adjusted odds ratio = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.31–5.31). Conclusion In general, it was found that VCT service utilization among students at higher education institutions in Ethiopia was low. More than half (54.0%) of students did not know their HIV status. Good HIV-related knowledge was positively associated with VCT service utilization. Therefore, to encourage HIV testing utilization, the HIV education program should be strengthened through institutional capacity-building (training) and improving supply chain systems (AIDS leaflets, stickers, newspapers, and billboards).