WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Chaltu Hinkosa*, Dinka Dugassa, Ginenus Fekadu, Habte Gebeyehu and Firomsa Bekele

ABSTRACT

Background: Voluntary Counseling and Testing is one of the main strategies to prevent and control HIV/AIDS. It is an entry point for other care and support services, which gives clients an opportunity to know their HIV status through confidential environment and plan for their future. In Ethiopia, voluntary counseling and testing service has been operational since 1980s. In Nekemte VCT service was started in 1995 in one hospital. Hence, this study has been conducted to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of Voluntary, Counselling and Testing (VCT) among extension pharmacy students of Wollega University. Methods: This study employed based cross sectional survey design. Questionnaire was used as a data collection method. Data was analyzed manually and the findings were presented in frequency tables and graphs. Result: The total 220 students participated in the study and from this 58.18% were single, 41.82% were married 0.4% was single respectively. With regard to their age 128% and 41.8% were male and female respectively. Regarding respondents Belief of the respondents regarding the importance of HIV testing and counseling majority of male respondents 88.3 responded as it is important. On the other hand 11.7% percent of the male respondents responded as voluntary counseling and testing is not important. 88.5% female respondents indicated their belief as voluntary counseling is important. Regarding respondents knowledge of the existence voluntary counseling and testing health facilities and places majority of female respondents 87.5% responded as they know where it exists. Conclusion: Based on the above major finding of the study, the following conclusions were drawn. In order to control the spread of HIV people’s knowledge, attitude and practice towards HIV counseling and testing should change. Recommendation: It was revealed in the study that some of the students lack knowledge of voluntary counseling and testing. Therefore, all the concerned body should provide a continuous counseling and awareness raising program on students’ knowledge of voluntary HIV counseling and testing.