Assessment of HIV Sero-Prevalence among St. Marry University Students, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: The HIV global epidemic continues to be the most serious of infectious disease challenges to the public health and it remains as a major threat to socioeconomic development. AIDS accounts for a leading cause of mortality and resulted in the deaths of 25 million people. Everyday 5,700 persons die from AIDS worldwide. The HIV prevalence in the student populations hadn’t adequately studied, but there is some undependable reports suggesting widespread of unsafe sexual practices making the young vulnerable to HIV infection. Hence the current study assesses HIV Sero-prevalence among St. Marry University students in Ethiopia to narrow the gap of studies in the young population. A cross sectional study design with self-administered questioners and clinical blood specimen collection were done among 900 St. Marry University, Ethiopia study participant in March, 2012.The sample size were determined with single population formula with considering none respondent rate. Statistical tests were carried out for HIV Sero positivity and its association to predisposing factors to HIV infections. Detail explanation were given the study participant, a written consent was obtained from each participant after clear explanation to the procedure, merits and demerits of being tested for HIV. The study shows, 98.7% of response rate. According to the finding the overall HIV Sero-prevalence among the participants was found to be 3.8% and more specifically, HIV prevalence shown among students come from urban areas 14(5.7%), small town15 (4.5%) and rural areas 5(1.6%). Unsafe sexual behaviors, risky habits of styles of life involving alcohol beverages drinking, chat chewing, substance use, drug abuse, men to men sex, change and exchange of several sex partners, rapes, revealed positive association with HIV positive Sero status. HIV remains as a serious health problem to those who were positive as well as to those who practice risk behaviors and comparably, lower prevalence of HIV was noticed in the study. There is a need to be further studies in depth for contributing factors which predispose to new HIV infection to prevent HIV infection among the late adolescence and adult population. Moreover, as a result of higher institution expansion, there is a need to provide organized HIV prevention activities to decrease HIV new infection.