Factors Affecting the Uptake of HIV Counselling and Testing Services (HCT) Among the Youth: A Case of Ndejje University Health Centre 111, Luwero District. Uganda.

ABSTRACT:
The study was carried out at Ndejje University Health Centre III from 2017 to 2018. The aim was examining factors affecting the uptake of HCT services among the youths at the centre. Study objectives were;
To find out client-related factors affecting uptake;
Examining service-related factors affecting the uptake;
And establishing strategies for improving the uptake. The study adopted a correlational cross-sectional survey design using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative approach was used to establish the trend and relationship among the factors.
Qualitative approach was used to collect data on participants’ perceptions, values and attitudes on the study variables. The findings revealed that there is a significant positive correlation (0.541) showing a relationship between client-related factors and uptake, (r (100=.541, P<.01). the significance value or P-value of 0.001, which is less than 0.01, confirms the strength of the positive relationship statistically significant at 0.01 level of significance.
This suggests that client-related factors positively influence uptake of HCT services among the youth at Ndejje University Health Center III. When the client-related factors, such as attitude, level of awareness, spousal consent are positive are favorable, uptake increases and when the client-related factors are negative, such as denial by one spouse, negative attitude, stigmatization or ignorance among the youth, uptake to HCT decreases.
It was concluded that spouse was associated with HCT services uptake. Targeting spouses through counseling sessions to address partner-related barriers may encourage HCT service uptake. Service delivery related factors such as access HCT services and counseling and effective delivery of HCT services increased uptake.
It was recommended to set up the necessary infrastructure for effective health service delivery. Efforts should be made to increase funding towards the health sector in order to enable the sector to put in place health infrastructures such as building to accommodate health facilities, staff houses, more ambulances for faster and timely referral purposes, as well as availing the necessary equipment for HCT services in a timely manner.