Abstract

Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (VCT) is a process by which an individual undergoes counseling to enable him or her to make informed choices about being tested for HIV. This study was conducted to assess knowledge and acceptance of HIV/AIDS and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) among secondary school students in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design a sample size of 300. Data collection was by the use of questionnaire and analyzed using percentage and presented using tables. The findings showed that all the respondents (100%) have heard of HIV/AIDS with few respondents (35.4%) stating their schools as source of information, other stated sources were their peers (20%) television and radio (17%). They respondents possess a high knowledge of HIV/AIDS and VCT. Majority (66%) of the respondents correctly identified HIV as the virus that causes AIDS, 66.7% of the respondents correctly identified AIDS as an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Virus. Majority (75%) of the respondents were aware of HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) but majority (85%) fail to undergo the HIV test as a result of a myriad of factors including fear of a positive test result, afraid of stigma and discrimination from employers, friends, and even family. It was recommended that there should be integration of HIV counseling and testing services into other healthcare services by all public health facilities and encourage private health facilities to follow suite. This will increase the chances of contact of the youth with HIV counseling and testing services. Also government should put in place measures to protect the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) e.g., laws to protect HIV positive from losing their jobs. Also, implementation of schedule routine HIV counseling and testing (yearly) as part of the school health services was also recommended.

Keywords: Knowledge; Acceptance; Human immunodeficiency virus; Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Voluntary counseling and testing