Assessment of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Service Utilization among Youths: A Case of Gelemso High School A thesis Report Submitted to Indira Gandhi National Open University School of Social Work in Partial Fulfillment for the Master Degree of Social Work

Abstract

Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is an important tool for preventing infection and it allows young people to evaluate their behavior and the consequences thereof. Knowledge of HIV status is the gate way to behavioral change, treatment, care, support and has documented prevention benefits. Youth (15-24 years) are particularly vulnerable to HIV because of the strong influence of peer pressure and the development of their sexual and social identities which often leads to experimentation. As they are initiating sexual behavior, counseling for safe practice is vital. . However, current reach of HIV testing services is poor and the uptake is low largely. This particular study aims to assess VCT service utilization among youths of Gelemso townhigh school. The study involved 378 youths from Gelemso High school.A two-stage sampling method was used to select study participants from the high school. The study employed structured questionnaire for data collection. The frequency and percentage was used for analyzing data collected from respondents. The Findings indicated majority of Youths 94.17% (n=356) heard about VCT. Mass media was cited more frequently as source of information (55.33 %( n=197). The majority of youths 74.43 %( n=265) reported that they haven’t had VCT whereas 25.56 %( n=91) reported that they had VCT before. All respondents who heard of VCT agreed that VCT is important, and stated the reason to know self-59.26 %( n=211) that is followed by to plan for future life 15.16 %( n=54). As a final point, the papers suggested some themes that may help improvement of VCT service utilizations among youths. The mass media have become a major source of information about HIV/AIDS and VCT; mass media professionals should have to capitalize on it and work for providing accurate and consistent information. It is also advisable to provide voluntary HIV counseling and testing services in schools and youth clubs to extend the VCT service to more by younger youth. The existing health institution preferably to provide youth-friendly VCT service