Open AccessPredictors of HIV Testing among Orphaned Youths in Three East African Countries
Author(s) -
Allison Pack,
Suzanne Maman,
H. Luz McNaughton Reyes,
Laura Nyblade,
Kathryn Whetten,
Catherine Zimmer,
Christine L. Gray,
Carol E. Golin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aids and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.994
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1573-3254
pISSN - 1090-7165
DOI - 10.1007/s10461-020-03104-9
Subject(s) - health psychology , tanzania , public health , moderation , demography , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , developing country , psychology , environmental health , clinical psychology , social psychology , geography , family medicine , nursing , environmental planning , economic growth , economics , sociology
In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV prevalence is high, HIV is a leading cause of death among youths. Orphaned and separated youths are an especially vulnerable group, yet we know little about what influences their testing behavior. We conducted multiple logistical regression to examine theory-based predictors of past-year HIV testing among 423 orphaned and separated youths in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. We also conducted moderation, assessing whether predictors varied by sex. Over one-third of our sample reported past-year HIV testing. Those with greater perceived social support and those who reported sexual HIV risk behavior were more likely to report past-year testing. Furthermore, boys who reported ever previously testing for HIV were more likely, a year later, to report past-year HIV testing. In conclusion, our findings have important implications for intervention development, including the potential for enhanced perceived social support to positively influence HIV testing among orphaned and separated youths.