Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Richard Jimenez

Abstract

AbstractDespite public health efforts to increase human immuno-deficiency virus testing and counseling (HTC) uptake, screening among college students remains low and understudied. The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational quantitative study was to explore the relationship between the constructs of the health belief model (perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy) and HTC uptake while controlling for age, sex settlement type, relationship status, area of residence, religious affiliation, and level of education. Four hundred and eighty-seven (N = 487) university students in Southwest Cameroon were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the Survey Monkey online platform. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables. The results indicated that perceived barriers (OR = 1.134; p < 0.011), cues to action (OR = 1.112; p = 0.044), and self-efficacy (OR = 1.405; p < 0.001) were statistically significant predictors of HTC uptake while perceived susceptibility (OR = 1.104; p = 0.086), perceived severity (OR = 1.043; p =0.500), and perceived benefits (OR = 1.066; p = 0.434) were not statistically significantly associated with HTC uptake. Having knowledge of factors that impact university students’ HTC uptake can assist in designing programs and interventions thereby creating public health policies. Potential positive social change impact of this study is to provide interventions to increase engagement in HTC and reduce the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS.

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