An Assessment of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) Service Utilization in Nigeria: A Binary Logistic Regression Approach

Abstract

HIV infection remains the most challenging health and development crisis in the last two decades as it continues to create health and socio-economic challenges in many parts of Nigeria and the world at large. HIV counselling and testing (HCT) can identify infection in early stages as it involves analysis of body fluids for the presence of antigens or antibodies produced in response to HIV and these are key to controlling the HIV epidemics. As a result, certain factors are considered in this study as deterrents to HCT service utilization in Nigeria applying the k-order binary logistic regression model using a structured questionnaire developed by the research team in some selected states in South-West of Nigeria. The socio-demographic details of respondents reveals that out of 788 people (out of 800 administered questionnaires) that were interviewed, 452 (57.4%) have had HCT while 336 (42.6%) never had HCT. Age15-19 (the adolescent) with 68.1% are the groups with the highest respondents with HCT uptake. The chi-square test of independence also reveals that age, gender, religion, and marital status are not related with HCT uptake while ethnic, educational status, place of residence are associated with decision on HCT uptake. The binary logistic regression of HCT uptake on the investigated socio-demographic details of respondents reveals the age group (50 and above) has the highest odds of up-taking HCT while those in the group 25-29 years has the least. Male respondents have a slightly higher odds compared to female and the Yoruba ethnic group are the most likely to utilize HCT. Results also revealed that traditionalist are the most likely to utilize HCT (1.635) with the Christianity (with 1.000) being the least. Those who are single/never married has a non-significant highest odds (1.092) among the marital status considered while those who are separated/divorced has the least (0.712). The odds of utilizing HCT is least among those with no formal education. People with Primary education are about three times more likely to take HCT compared to those with no formal education. Rural settlers are about three times (2.818) more likely to uptake HCT in comparison with those who reside in urban centres. Finally, employment status of respondents is insignificant to HCT uptake, although the odds in favour of those that are schooling is highest (1.175), followed by those that are self-employed (1.013).