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Determinants of Voluntary HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing among Community College Students in the United States
*Corresponding author email: ganwuri77@gmail.com
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Received: ,
Accepted: ,
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing remains the best public health preventive strategy in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We assessed the factors that determined voluntary counseling and screening/testing for HIV among college students.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, a purposeful sample of 189 college students was analyzed using three health belief model (HBM) variables as the theoretical framework.
Results:
All the HBM variables were positively associated with intention to test for HIV, and with perceived benefits (p = 0.023) having the strongest association.
Conclusion and Global Health Implications:
The results of this study underscore the important factors that predict intention to screen for HIV among college students. Understanding the factors that influence intention for HIV testing is useful in formulating public health policies and in the design of programs and interventions aimed at increasing the number of people who get tested for HIV.
Keywords
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
HIV Testing
Risky Sexual Behavior
Health Belief Model
HIV Counseling
HIV Screening
1. Introduction
As the world enters four decades since the first case of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed, HIV and AIDS remain a major public health problem both in the United States (U.S.) and globally.[1] Worldwide, about 34 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2010.[2] According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1.2 million individuals are infected with HIV, and about 312,000, or 26%, of this number are undiagnosed.[3] There are significant racial and ethnic disparities in the burden of HIV/AIDS in United States. For example, African Americans, more than any other ethnic group in the United States, bear the greatest burden of HIV/AIDS. The HIV prevalence rate among African Americans is almost eight times higher than that of European Americans (1,715 per 100,000 vs. 224 per 100,000. [4] In 2007, African Americans constituted 13% of the U.S. population, however 51% of all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in United States were among African Americans.[5] According to the CDC, in 2008, out of the 42,439 newly diagnosed HIV infections in the 37 states and US dependent areas with confidential name-based reporting, 19% were Hispanics/Latinos.[5, 6] Most recent estimates from the CDC show that 61% of the estimated 48,000 new HIV infections in the United States occurred among gay and bisexual men.[4] In addition, CDC estimated that 14,110 out of the 35,962 people with an AIDS diagnosis in 2007 died from the diseases.[4]
Experts agree that HIV screening or testing is an integral and significant component of public health strategies to address prevention, treatment, and care for HIV/AIDS.[7] However, despite efforts to increase HIV testing and remove barriers that prevent people from taking HIV tests, the number of people testing for HIV remains low. According to CDC, one in five (or about 56,000) people living with HIV did not know that they were infected.[5] Particularly, as relating to this study, global and local surveillance data identify young adults aged 15-24 to be among the most-risky age group vulnerable to HIV infection in the United States and globally.[2, 8]
Although the CDC identifies them as among the vulnerable population, HIV testing among adolescents in general and college-aged students in particular remains low; moreover, those in this age bracket make up about 50% of latest cases.[9] Given the vulnerability of college-aged persons, in addition to the individual and population-level benefits of HIV testing, there is need for epidemiological studies rigorously exploring the factors that predict uptake of HIV testing among college students.[10] Specifically, this study explored the predictors as well as the social, demographic, and behavioral correlates of HIV testing seeking behavior among college students using the following three constructs of the health belief model (HBM): (a) perceived susceptibility, (b) perceived severity, (c) perceived benefits.[11]
2. Methods
This is a cross-sectional study that explored the factors that affect HIV screening among college students in Maryland. We collected primary data from a self-administered survey of eligible students which we analyzed to explore the association between HBM variables and HIV testing among the students. Data from this cross-sectional study were obtained from face-to-face surveys administered to eligible and self-consenting students at the college. The survey used a convenience sampling technique using a survey instrument developed by and used in identical settings.[12] Because the reasons for underutilization of HIV testing among college-aged students remain understudied, a cross-sectional study provides the opportunity to explore the unknown variables and thus use the results as the base for program planning and potential longitudinal studies or interventions studies.
2.1. Population and sampling
2.1.1. Overview of the community college
Primary data for this study were collected using a self-administered survey fielded among eligible and consenting students at a community college in the State of Maryland, in Northeastern United States. The college has a current student population of about 11,822 undergraduates enrolled in about 60 academic programs of study.[13] The median age of the student population is 28 years. The racial distribution is 8.4% white, 77.8% African-American, 3.9% Hispanic, and 9.8% others including Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian, Nonresident Alien, and Unknown.[14] Approval for all data collection instruments in the study was obtained from the institutional review boards at Walden University, Minneapolis, and the community college.
2.1.2. Sample size
The approximate calculation of the association between the dependent and independent variables of the study is given by the effect size. [15] Based on the study design, research questions, and hypotheses, the following assumptions were made for the purpose of calculating the appropriate sample size for the study. The study power will be set to. 80; the independent variables were set at six; and the effect size was set at.15. Thus, the G – Power statistical tool was used to generate a sample size of 104 which is likely going to provide sufficient power to find relationships if one exists. However, for this study, a sample size of 200 was used to compensate for nonresponse rates and for unreturned or voided questionnaires that were excluded from the analysis.
2.2. Data collection
2.2.1. Recruitment of respondents and survey administration
The study recruitment plan included several activities aimed at conducting the study ethically and protecting the rights of the study respondents. For example, we obtained prior approval to administer the study including Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval (IRB #: 01-17-12-0061840) for ethical consideration, collaborated with lecturers and presented an overview of the study to the students prior to administering the surveys.
In addition, we reviewed the rights of study participants regarding ethical issues such as protection of their privacy, their rights to withdraw from the study at any time, methods for ensuring anonymity, and the duration of the survey. As part of the IRB approval process, the community college authorities issued an introductory letter, documenting permission to conduct study for us to approach faculty in the classes to be surveyed.
2.2.2. Survey administration
The survey was administered without the assistance of the community college students for actual handling and collation of completed questionnaires to avoid accidental disclosure of participant information. A total of 200 students were recruited from classrooms, notable college associations, the dining hall, and library. To ensure rapid survey administration, the questionnaires were distributed to students at the college’s three campuses at Largo, Laurel, and University Town Center, Hyattsville, Maryland. Recruitment also targeted participants in student organizations, students’ cafeteria as well as lecture rooms, and library. We used the random sampling strategy for this survey, and applied the simple random sample method. This ensured that each participant was given an equal opportunity of being selected. It also minimized bias and simplified analysis of results. In order to justify fairness of selection for the study, the simple random sampling method ensured that randomness was maintained. Since the target population is a predominantly black population, the Principal Investigator (PI) ensured that out of every 10 questionnaires distributed, at least seven of them were African Americans, one of them was European American, one Hispanic, and one of the others included Asian/Pacific Islander. Thus, all races and other demographic factors were randomly accounted for. The overall data collection period lasted seven days, and each questionnaire took no more than 10 minutes to complete. A sealed box was provided to respondents to drop their completed questionnaires. Pen and pocket notebooks were given to respondents who completed and returned their questionnaires to the PI. All questionnaires were distributed and retrieved on the spot. The respondents were not given the opportunity to return questionnaires later. At the end of the data collection, the coordinator of the research project arranged with the PI on when to close-out and debrief the college representatives concerning method of dissemination of results.
3. Data and Statistical Analyses
Data analysis was conducted using STATA for windows version 11.0.[16] Data analysis involved three distinct stages—the univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. In the univariate analysis, the STATA’s “describe” command was used to conduct exploratory analyses. Results of the exploratory analyses were evaluated to identify data distribution, summary statistics, and frequency table. The sociodemographic variables in the survey were analyzed and proportions obtained using numbers and percentages.
For the Bivariate analysis, the STATA command “tabulate, independent variable, dependent variable, chi” command was used to analyze and examine the relationship between the dependent categorical and the independent categorical variables. It must be noted that the Pearson chi square test used in this analysis to analyze the relationship between the categorical variables (HBM constructs, and sociodemographics) on the dependent variables—HIV testing—is the most suited test especially when the variables are categorical as in the present study. [17]
For our multivariate analysis, we conducted three logistic regression models testing the independent and the joint effects of the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables tested as sociodemographics and HIV testing (model 1); HBM constructs and HIV testing (model 2); and sociodemographics, HBM constructs, and HIV testing (model 3).
4. Results
4.1. Univariate statistics
The univariate analysis (Tables 1 and 2) showed that there was a high understanding of the perceived benefits of voluntary HIV testing and counseling both for prevention of infection and for personal well-being. Regarding the HBM construct of perceived benefits, the data indicated that about 77% of the respondents agreed that HIV testing makes people feel better, while 60% of them agreed that HIV testing helps to prevent infection with the virus that causes AIDS. Regarding perceived susceptibility, 52% of the respondents disagreed that they were not likely to contract HIV. The data showed that the participants have an excellent knowledge of the perceived severity of HIV epidemic. About 91% of the respondents agreed that HIV/AIDS is a severe health problem, while 89% agreed that HIV/AIDS is a disease with significant consequences. Turning to the study’s dependent variable, the majority of the students reported that they have tested for HIV (63%). Out of those who reported that they have ever tested for HIV, 59% reported that they have tested more than once. A majority of the study respondents were African American (79%), younger than 40 years in age (97%), single (86%), heterosexual (70%), and sexually active (68%).
| Variables | HIV testing Total (N=189) |
|---|---|
| N (%) | |
| HBM construct of perceived benefits: HIV test makes people feel better | |
| Strongly disagree | 12 (6.35) |
| Disagree | 5 (2.65) |
| Neutral | 26 (13.76) |
| Agree | 46 (24.34) |
| Strongly agree | 100 (52.91) |
| HBM construct of perceived benefits: HIV test helps prevent HIV infection | |
| Strongly disagree | 18 (9.52) |
| Disagree | 29 (15.34) |
| Neutral | 29 (15.34) |
| Agree | 32 (16.93) |
| Strongly agree | 81 (42.86) |
| HBM construct of perceeived susceptibility: I am not likely to contract HIV | |
| Strongly disagree | 30 (15.87) |
| Disagree | 22 (11.64) |
| Neutral | 38 (20.11) |
| Agree | 36 (19.05) |
| Strngly agree | 63 (33.33) |
| HBM construct of perceived suscpetibility: Without HIV test, I may be positive without knowing | |
| Strongly disagree | 35 (18.52) |
| Disagree | 36 (19.05) |
| Neutral | 46 (24.34) |
| Agree | 38 (20.11) |
| Strongly agree | 34 (17.99) |
| HBM Construct of Perceived Severity: HIV/AIDS is a severe health problem | |
| Strongly disagree | 5 (2.65) |
| Disagree | 3 (1.59) |
| Neutral | 10 (5.29) |
| Agree | 35 (18.52) |
| Strongly agree | 136 (71.96) |
| HBM construct of perceived severity: HIV/AIDS is a disease with significant consequences | |
| Strongly disagree | 5 (2.65) |
| Disagree | 5 (2.65) |
| Neutral | 10 (5.29) |
| Agree | 29 (15.34) |
| Strongly agree | 140 (74.04) |
| Participation in HIV testing: Ever tested for HIV | |
| No | 69 (36.51) |
| Yes | 120 (63.49) |
| Participation in HIV testing: Number of times tested for HIV | |
| 1 | 43 (40.95) |
| 2 or more | 62 (59.05) |
| Variables | HIV testing Total (N=189) |
|---|---|
| N (%) | |
| Age | |
| 18–28 | 166 (87.83) |
| 29–39 | 17 (9.0) |
| 40–50 | 3 (1.59) |
| 51+ | 2 (1.06) |
| No response | 1 (0.53) |
| Gender | |
| Male | 88 (46.56) |
| Female | 100 (52.91) |
| Other | 1 (0.53) |
| Race | |
| African American | 149 (78.84) |
| Hispanic/Latino | 12 (6.35) |
| Asian American | 9 (4.76) |
| White/Caucasian | 5 (2.65) |
| Native American | 2 (1.06) |
| Other | 15 (6.35) |
| Marital status | |
| Single | 16 (86.24) |
| Married | 11 (5.82) |
| Divorced | 3 (1.59) |
| Other | 12 (6.35) |
| Sexual orientation | |
| Heterosexual | 133 (70.37) |
| Gay | 9 (4.76) |
| Bisexual | 3 (1.59) |
| Other | 13 (6.88) |
| No answer | 31 (16.67) |
| Sexually active | |
| Yes | 129 (68.25) |
| No | 46 (24.34) |
| No answer | 14 (7.41) |
4.2. Bivariate analysis
The results of the bi-variate analysis (Tables 3 and 4) provide insight into the unadjusted relationship between voluntary HIV testing and counseling and the HBM constructs among the college students surveyed. Regarding the HBM construct of perceived benefits, 50% of the people who said they agreed with the statement that “HIV test makes people feel better” are more likely to voluntarily test for HIV (χ2 (1, N=189) = 0.689, p<0.05). Respondents who agree that HIV testing helps prevent HIV infection (42%) were more likely to test for HIV (χ2 (1, N=189) = 5.195, p<0.05). The data also indicate that survey respondents who perceive HIV as a severe health problem (57%) were more likely to test for HIV (χ2 (1, N=189) = 0.087, p<0.05).
| Variables | HIV testing Total (N=189) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N(%) | Yes N(%) | χ2 | p-value<0.05 | |
| HBM construct of perceived benefits: HIV test makes people feel better | ||||
| Disagree | 18 (10) | 25 (13) | 0.688 | 0.407 |
| Agree | 51 (27) | 95 (50) | 0.688 | 0.407 |
| HBM construct of perceived benefits: HIV test helps prevent HIV infection | ||||
| Disagree | 35 (19) | 41 (22) | 5.194 | 0.023* |
| Agree | 33 (17) | 80 (42) | 5.194 | 0.023* |
| HBM construct of perceived susceptibility: I am not likely to conract HIV | ||||
| Disagree | 33 (17) | 57 (30) | 0.002 | 0.966 |
| Agree | 36 (19) | 63 (33) | 0.002 | 0.966 |
| HBM construct of perceived susceptibility: Without HIV test, I may be positive without knowing it | ||||
| Disagree | 45 (24) | 72 (38) | 0.506 | 0.477 |
| Agree | 24 (13) | 48 (25) | 0.506 | 0.477 |
| HBM construct of perceived serverity: HIV/AIDS is a severe health problem | ||||
| Disagree | 6 (3) | 12 (6) | 0.087 | 0.77 |
| Agree | 63 (33) | 108 (57) | 0.087 | 0.77 |
| HBM construct of perceived serverity: HIV/AIDS is a disease with significant consequences | ||||
| Disagree | 8 (4) | 12 (6) | 0.105 | 0.75 |
| Agree | 61 (32) | 108 (57) | 0.105 | 0.75 |
| Variables | HIV testing Total (N=189) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No N (%) | Yes N (%) | χ2 | p-value<0.05 | ||
| Sex | N=189 | ||||
| Male | 37 (20) | 51 (27) | 4.032 | 0.13 | |
| Female | 30 (16) | 70 (37) | 0.492 | ||
| Other | 1 (0.5) | 0 (0) | 2.31 | ||
| Age | |||||
| 18–28 | 65 (34) | 101 (53) | 5.004 | 0.29 | |
| 29–39 | 3 (2) | 14 (7) | 3.54 | 0.89 | |
| 40–50 | 1 (0.5) | 2 (1) | 1.710 | 0.83 | |
| 51 and above | 0 (0) | 3 (2) | 0.220 | 0.88 | |
| Marital status | |||||
| Single | 60 (32) | 103 (55) | 3.082 | 0.38 | |
| Married | 3 (2) | 8 (4) | 1.092 | 0.52 | |
| Divorced | 0 (0) | 3 (2) | 0.650 | 0.52 | |
| Other | 6 (3) | 6 (3) | 0.880 | 0.88 | |
| Race | |||||
| African American | 48 (25) | 101 (53) | 9.273 | 0.10 | |
| Hispanic/Latino | 5 (3) | 7 (4) | 0.411 | 0.02 | |
| Asian American | 7 (4) | 2 (1) | 0.113 | 0.22 | |
| White/Caucasian | 3 (2) | 2 (1) | 0.297 | 0.61 | |
| Native American | 1 (0.5) | 1 (0.5) | 0.685 | 0.52 | |
| Other | 5 (3) | 7 (4) | 0.411 | 0.52 | |
| Sexual orientation | |||||
| Heterosexual | 45 (24) | 88 (47) | 2.290 | 0.68 | |
| Gay | 3 (2) | 6 (3) | 0.774 | 0.94 | |
| Bisexual | 2 (1) | 1 (0.5) | 0.328 | 0.28 | |
| Other | 6 (3) | 7 (4) | 0.362 | 0.411 | |
| No answer | 13 (7) | 18 (10) | 0.300 | 0.45 | |
| Sexually active | |||||
| Yes | 26 (14) | 103 (54) | 50.064 | 0.00* | |
| No | 36 (19) | 10 (5) | 50.381 | 0.18 | |
| No answer | 7 (4) | 7 (4) | 49.566 | 0.03* | |
4.3. Multivariate analysis
We performed multivariate analyses, using logistic regression models, in order to determine relationship among the variables of interest. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were obtained and level of significance was set at alpha ≤ 0.05.
The final model of the study (Table 5) indicates that the HBM constructs were strong predictors of higher odds of testing for HIV. Respondents who agreed that HIV test makes people feel better had 27% higher odds of testing for HIV in the final model compared to their counterparts who disagreed. Respondents who agreed that HIV test prevents HIV infection had about 210% higher odds of testing compared to those who did not agree that HIV test helped prevent infection with the virus. Although the final model shows that those who agreed that HIV was a severe health problem had 176% higher odds of testing for HIV compared to their counterparts who disagreed, those who agreed that HIV was a disease with significant consequences had 85% lower odds of testing for HIV.
| Variables | HIV testing Total (N=189) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model 1 (HIV testing and sociodemographics) | Model 2 (HIV testing and HBM constructs) | Model 3 (HIV testing, sociodemographics, and HBM constructs) | |
| Sociodemographics | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 1.00 (Reference) | 1.00 (Reference) | |
| Female | 1.72 (0.79-3.79) | 3.92 (1.37-11.24)** | |
| Sexual orientation | |||
| Heterosexual | 1.00 (Reference) | 1.00 (Reference) | |
| Gay | 1.39 (0.16-12.21) | 1.02 (0.07-14.25) | |
| Bisexual | 0.16 (0.01-3.15) | 0.10 (0.00-3.07) | |
| Other | 0.52 (0.11-2.40) | 0.85 (0.13-5.41) | |
| No answer | 1.48 (0.48-4.53) | 1.54 (0.35-6.70) | |
| Sexual activity status | |||
| Sexually active | 1.00 (Reference) | 1.00 (Reference) | |
| Not sexually active | 0.06 (0.02-0.16)** | 0.02 (0.00-0.10)** | |
| No answer | 0.22 (0.06-0.76)** | 0.13 (0.03-0.66)** | |
| Other | 0.42 (0.09-1.89) | 0.37 (0.56-2.44) | |
| Age group | |||
| 18–28 | 1.00 (Reference) | 1.00 (Reference) | |
| 29–39 | 4.54 (0.77-26.80) | 7.84 (0.72-85.13) | |
| Marital status | |||
| Single | 1.00 (Reference) | 1.00 (Reference) | |
| Married | 1.02 (0.15-6.83) | 1.70 (0.21-13.88) | |
| Race | |||
| African American | 1.00 (Reference) | 1.00 (Reference) | |
| Hispanic/Latino | 0.90 (0.19-4.25) | 2.61 (0.48-14.27) | |
| Asian American | 0.11 (0.02-0.89)** | 0.11 (0.01-1.27) | |
| White/Caucasian | 0.30 (0.03-2.35) | 0.31 (0.03-3.06) | |
| Native American | 1.25 (0.02-93.44) | 2.40 (0.01-523.36) | |
| Other | 1.21 (0.26-5.54) | 2.49 (0.27-22.61) | |
| HBM constructs | |||
| HIV test makes people feel better | 0.99 (0.43-2.26) | 1.27 (0.38-4.19) | |
| HIV test prevents HIV infection | 2.09 (1.04-4.21)** | 3.11 (1.05-9.19)** | |
| Not likely to contract HIV | 0.87 (0.45-1.71) | 0.71 (0.26-1.95) | |
| Without HIV test, may be positive but unaware of status | 1.28 (0.63-2.60) | 0.87 (0.33-2.35) | |
| HIV severe health problem | 0.74 (0.20-2.80) | 2.76 (0.45-17.00) | |
| HIV disease with significant consequences | 0.75 (0.20-2.82) | 0.15 (0.12-1.28) | |
| It is easy to get HIV test | 1.43 (0.55-3.70) | 0.58 (0.15-2.21) | |
| It is difficult to get HIV test | 0.34 (0.12-1.01)** | 0.25 (0.06-0.98)** | |
| Lack of time to get HIV test | 1.04 (0.24-4.45) | 1.05 (0.16-6.90) | |
| Not tested, dislike for needles | 1.86 (0.56-6.24) | 2.51 (0.47-13.37) | |
| Test after sex with casual partner | 0.67 (0.32-1.38) | 0.69 (0.26-1.86) | |
| Test after sex with steady partner | 1.48 (0.64-3.39) | 1.50 (0.49-4.55) | |
OR=Odds Ratio; CI=Confidence Interval;
4.4. Perceived susceptibility and HIV testing
There was an association between perceived susceptibility and HIV testing among the students. However, the direction of this association varied for each of the two survey questions exploring the respondents’ perceived susceptibility and likelihood to test for HIV. As would be expected, there was a negative association between perceived susceptibility and HIV testing when the respondents were asked to respond to the question “It is not likely that I will contract HIV.” Those who agreed with this statement had 13% lower odds of testing for HIV than those who disagreed with it. A negative association was expected because the goal of public health is to heighten the risk perception of susceptibility to HIV and thus increase people’s likelihood to seek HIV testing. However, there was a negative, but unexpected, association between perceived susceptibility and HIV testing for the second question that tested the association between perceived susceptibility and HIV testing. For this question, respondents were asked, “Without HIV testing, I may be positive but unaware of my status.” In the second model testing the association between this HBM construct and the question, those who agreed had 28% higher odds of testing for HIV compared to those who disagreed with the assertion positing a positive association.
4.4. Perceived severity and HIV testing
There was a positive association between perceived severity of HIV and HIV testing among the respondents. When asked to react to the statement “HIV is a severe health problem,” respondents who agreed had 176% higher odds of testing for HIV compared to those who disagreed (Model 3, Table 5). Unfortunately, for the second arm of the question on perceived severity, this association was negative. Although there was a high agreement among the respondents that HIV disease is a disease with significant consequences (Table 5), the association became negative when this construct was considered in the presence of demographic factors. When this response was adjusted, the odds of testing for HIV among those who acknowledged that HIV has significant consequences was 85% lower compared to their counterparts who disagreed with the statement (Table 5).
4.5. Perceived benefits and HIV testing
There was a strong association between the HBM construct of perceived benefits and HIV testing. To test the respondent’s perception of the benefits of HIV testing, the survey asked the respondents whether they agreed with the statements that “HIV test makes people feel better” and “HIV test prevents HIV infection.” For both questions, there was a strong and positive association between perceived benefits and HIV testing. Respondents who agreed that HIV testing makes people feel better had 27% higher odds of testing for HIV compared to their counterparts who disagreed with the statement. Respondents who agreed that HIV testing helps prevent HIV infection had 211% higher odds of testing for HIV than their counterparts who disagreed with the statement.
4.6. Social/Demographic factors and HIV testing
There were associations between social and demographic characteristics and HIV testing. These associations were both positive and negative. For example, we found that in terms of race, Hispanic/Latino respondents had 161% higher odds of testing for HIV compared to their counterparts and the highest for all races reported in the study. Respondents aged between 29-30 years had over 300% higher odds of testing for HIV compared to their counterparts of other age groups. Being sexually inactive was negatively associated with HIV testing. The findings indicated that sexually inactive respondents had 98% lower odds of testing for HIV compared to their counterparts who were sexually active (Table 5).
5. Discussion
This was an original study using quantitative cross-sectional survey to evaluate the associations between participation in HIV testing and the constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM) among students in a community college. We investigated whether the HBM constructs of perceived benefits, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity were associated with HIV testing among the respondents. It should be noted that HBM is one of the theories for studying human behavior in public health. According to Payne et al (2009), HBM has been one of the leading theories in public health given its ability to show the individual perception of benefits, severity, and ability to address the dangers of risky behavior through action.[18]
The study results indicate that, in general, there is a strong association between the HBM constructs and HIV testing. For example, those who reported perceived benefits of HIV testing had 27% and 11% higher odds of testing for HIV than those who had lower perceived benefits of HIV testing. This association was positive. Similarly, there was a positive relationship between perceived severity of HIV to HIV testing among the respondents. When asked to react to the statement, “HIV is a severe health problem,” respondents who agreed had 176% higher odds of testing for HIV compared to those who disagreed. Unfortunately, for the second arm of the question on perceived severity, there is a marked agreement among the respondents that HIV disease is a disease with significant consequences. However, when this response was adjusted, the odds of testing for HIV among those who acknowledged that HIV has significant consequences was 85% lower compared to their counterparts. This result is consistent with the findings of Gao et al. (2000), who reported a positive outcome of their HBM construct of perceived severity, where the respondents agreed that HIV/AIDS was a serious disease.[19] This presents an opportunity for public health education, awareness, and education within this population so that acknowledgement of the magnitude of the epidemic could be followed by action.
Our study provides actionable data that will be necessary for planning and implementing programs to address HIV prevention among college-aged students. The study provides critical information that can be used in addressing the health needs of students about HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases. For example, this study has the potential to positively impact social change because it presents information that will be necessary for education leaders, public health officials, and community-based organizations to understand more robust methods for implementing public health programs aimed at increasing HIV testing.
This study is a cross-sectional study from which it is generally ineffective for ascertaining temporal relationships or to determine the direction of events. It is therefore necessary to conduct a longitudinal study that provides information on the same variables over a long time so the results could be compared over time. A survey like this, for example, can be completed as part of the registration process for new students, where the same questions could be fielded every year to ascertain the varying risk-taking behaviors of cohorts of students that enter the school.
6. Conclusion and Global Health Implications
One of the key tenets of public health and health promotion programs with regards to reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS epidemic is increasing the number of people who are aware of their HIV status and reducing the number of people who are unaware of their status.[20] Those who know their status are more likely to protect themselves and even among those who are positive, awareness of status has been shown to decrease transmission of the virus among seropositive partners.[20] According to the CDC, out of about 1,178,350 persons who are infected with HIV in the United States, more than 942,680 number of people know their status.[21] In the US, the cost of treatment and management of the HIV/AIDS epidemic was estimated at 11.6 billion per year in 2005 alone.[22] It is recommended that planners be overly optimistic to forestall inflationary impacts on funding. However, even if such measures were applied here, it is possible that the costs of HIV-related care to the federal government could have doubled by 2015 fiscal year. Given that HIV testing is the mainstay of prevention messaging, it behooves public health professionals and agencies to use actionable information such as presented in this study in the design of programs at community level aimed at increasing HIV testing in the community and the country.
Acknowledgements
This publication is/was fully/partially supported by the Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. (GHEP) under the Emerging Scholar’s Grant Program (ESGP). The information contents and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by ESGP or GHEP.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no relevant conflict of interest.
Ethics Approval: This study was approved by an Institutional Review Board.
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