Browsing by Author "Msangazi, Vitus David"

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    Voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing (VCT) services among university students the Case of University of Dodoma and University of Dar es Salaam
    (University of Dar es Salaam,, 2017) Msangazi, Vitus David
    The study investigated factors associated with low utilization of Voluntary HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing services provided to students at the University of Dodoma and the University of Dar Es salaam. It was conducted among undergraduate students. A survey design was deployed in undertaking the investigation. The study adopted a mixed research paradigm where qualitative and quantitative approaches were deployed. A simple random sampling method was used to select the participants for the survey and a total of 768 students were involved of which 384 were selected from each university and respondents were selected for the qualitative interviews using a purposive sampling approach. The study results indicate low awareness among students on the availability of VCT services within the campus area. It was revealed that there was low utilization of on campus VCT services associated with poor motivation and inadequate time that students have due to studies’ schedule. However, more than half of participants indicated positive perception toward VCT services. Furthermore, the study revealed that there was low awareness of the available voluntary HIV counseling and testing services since only45.5% of participants declared to be aware of the availability of on campus services despite the fact that service providers declared to have been providing information to students for the purpose of increasing awareness. Based on the findings the study recommends the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children to create friendly environment to young people to feel free to use services that are available but also it should provide guideline to service providers on how to reach students (outreach programs).University administrations should integrate VCT services and other health and HIV programs into day to day activities at the campuses. Further studies should be conducted to explore services and innovative techniques to attract VCT services utilization to students. Furthermore other sources of information that are appropriate to the environment should be innovated for the purpose of increasing awareness of students on the available VCT services at their campuses.