HIV Prevalence and Associated Factors among Female Mobile HIV Counseling and Testing Acceptors in 40 Towns of Ethiopia

Abstract

Large proportions of women are exposed to risk of HIV infection due to a number of factors and also different strategies are identified to address those at risk population groups, HIV counseling and testing is one of the entry points of prevention and mitigation programs. But in spite of the effort HIV remains one of the major public health problems of the country. . Objective The general objective of the study is to assess HIV test result and its determinants among women clients of the mobile HCT service. Methodology This is a descriptive study which is conducted 40 towns of Ethiopia for the period July, 2007 and November,2008. The data were routinely collected by the service providers. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to determine HIV prevalence and its determinants respectively. Result and Discussion The overall HIV prevalence among mobile counseling and testing women clients was 8.53%.for all Clients, aged 25 – 29 [AOR=3.1, CI 2.4 – 4.0], widowed clients [AOR=2.9 CI 2.3 – 3.6], clients who reached to primary level of education [AOR=2.1, CI 1.4 – 3.0], commercial sex worker[AOR=8.1, CI 5.8 – 13.8], binge sexually active[AOR=2.2, CI 1.8 – 3.5], are the major determinants of HIV infection among all female clients. Conclusion and recommendation Females HIV status is determinants are age group 25 – 39 , widowed, separated and divorced, lower level of education, being a commercial sex worker, history of STI and those who are making life by petty trading, tella and areke selling at greater risk. The prevention strategies should focus on this segment of the female population. In addition to this targeted behavioral change communication strategies should be developed. I recommend that the existing different HIV Counseling and testing modalities should focus to reach key population groups.