HIV Risk Perception: Predicators and its Association with HIV test Result among Sexually Active Mobile HIV Counseling and Testing (MHCT) Clients

Abstract

Background: The identification of individuals’ perception of risk is strongly related to the self protecting behavior of individuals. For successful HIV prevention and control program monitoring risk behaviors among persons who are infected or persons who are at highest risk for infection is vital way. Objective: To assess the association between perceived risks of HIV infection and predictor variables and compare risk perception with test results Method: This is a cross sectional study based on data routinely collected by service provider for the period of July 2007 and November 2008. Altogether 47,876 clients were included in the study. Descriptive and multivariate analyses performed to determine risk perception Result: Overall the majority of the respondents viewed themselves as being at no risk of HIV infection. Female clients perceived more risk than male clients and respectively, AOR=1.11 95% CI 1.05- 1.14). Clients who were in previous marital union such as widowed (AOR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.84-2.28) followed by divorced (AOR=1.5) and Separated (AOR=1.21) perceived more risk than their married clients. Employed client 1.29 times more likely to perceive risk than unemployed clients (AOR= 1.29, 95 % CI: 1.24-1.33), risk perception was higher among clients with history of sex for money (AOR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.28-1.53), CSW (AOR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.53- 2.36) and clients with history of STI (AOR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.19-1.39) compared to their corresponding reference population categories. As the number of casual partners increase HIV risk perception also increase (X2= 702.766, p-value= 0.000001). Clients with positive HIV test result 1.45 times more likely to perceive risk of HIV infection than clients with negative test result (AOR=1.45, CI: 1.35-1.57) Conclusion: Overall the risk perception was low among mobile HCT clients, however HIV risk of infection is perceived more by females, clients in previous marital union, employed and uneducated and clients with risky sexual behavior. The result revealed that risk perception has significant association with individuals HIV test result Recommendation: Improve behavioral communication approaches to enable people to be aware of their risks that help them to protect from HIV/AIDS and provide targeted HIV prevention service