Background Characteristics of the Study Population:
A total of 654 students were included in the study making a response rate of 97%. From a total of 654 rseponsants, two hundred fifty one (38.4 %) were males and four hundred three (61.6%) respondents were females from grade 11th -12th. Considering to place of birth, one hundred sixty one (24.6%) were rural area and four hundred ninety three (75.4 %) were urban dwellers. With regard to religious five hundred six (77.4%) were orthodox followers, eighty eight (13.4%) were Muslim and sixty (9.2%) were other religion followers such as, protestant and catholic. Regarding to age (63.3%) of rseponsants less than 18 years old and (36.7%) were greater than 18 years old. Concerned to marital status most adolescents, six hundred thirty six (97.2%) were single and the rest eighteen (2.8 %) were ever married. When ask students regarding to personal monthly pocket money one hundred fifty six (23.9%) ever had pocket money for daily expenses and four hundred ninety eight (76.1 %) of respondents who had no pocket money. In terms of educational status of father sixty three (9.6 %) of the respondents reported that their fathers were illiterate, one hundred eighty three (28 %) were read and write, one hundred twenty two (18.7 %) were primary education and two hundred eighty six (43.7 %) of respondents their father had taken secondary and above secondary education.
The majority of respondents their father occupational status, two hundred fifty four (38.8%) were government employed, followed by merchant one hundred eighty nine (28.9 %). Study participants reported that their mothers educational status, three hundred six (46.8 %) of the respondent mothers didn’t have any formal education, one hundred ten (16.8 %) were primary education and two hundred thirty eight (36.4%) of respondents their mothers had taken secondary and above secondary education. Regarding to mothers occupation, most of the respondents reported that their mothers a house wife which accounts two hundred ninety one (44.5%), one hundred sixty three (24.9%) of merchants, one hundred sixty (24.5 %) and forty (6.1 %) were, government employed and others respectively. Others refers to daily laborer as well as farmers.
About family monthly income majority of their families earned greater than 3550 birr. Regarding to living arrangement majority of students, four hundred eighty eight (74.6%) of live with both parents, eighty six (13.1%) were live with mother only and eighty (12.2 %) were live with others. Others indicted that with father only, sister, brother, grandmother, aunt as well as grandfather.
Table1: Percentage distribution of study population by their basic socio- economic and demographic characteristics in Gondar town 2019
Variables
|
Frequency (N)
|
Percent (%)
|
Sex
|
Male
|
251
|
38.4
|
Female
|
403
|
61.6
|
Age
|
<18 years
|
414
|
63.3
|
>18 years
|
240
|
36.7
|
Religion
|
Orthodox
|
506
|
77.4
|
Muslim
|
88
|
13.4
|
Others
|
60
|
9.2
|
Place of birth
|
Rural
|
161
|
24.6
|
Urban
|
493
|
75.4
|
Marital Status
|
Single
|
636
|
97.2
|
Married
|
18
|
2.8
|
Personal monthly pocket money
|
Yes
|
156
|
23.9
|
No
|
498
|
76.1
|
Father’s educational level
|
Illiterate
|
63
|
9.6
|
Read & write
|
183
|
28
|
Primary school
|
122
|
18.7
|
Secondary& above
|
286
|
43.7
|
Mother’s
educational level
|
Not formal education
|
306
|
46.8
|
Primary school
|
110
|
16.8
|
Secondary& above
|
238
|
36.4
|
Family monthly income
|
150-1400 ETB
|
184
|
28.1
|
1401-3550 ETB
|
224
|
34.3
|
>3550 ETB
|
246
|
37.6
|
Mother’s occupation
|
Government employed
|
160
|
24.5
|
Merchant
|
163
|
24.9
|
House wife
|
291
|
44.5
|
Others
|
40
|
6.1
|
Father’s occupation
|
Government employed
|
254
|
38.8
|
Farmer
|
177
|
27.1
|
Merchant
|
189
|
28.9
|
Daily laborer
|
34
|
5.2
|
Living status
|
With both parents
|
488
|
74.6
|
With mother only
|
86
|
13.1
|
Others
|
80
|
12.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source: Field Survey, 2019
Sexual history of study participants: Among respondents seventy one (39%) of male and one hundred eleven (61%) of females were ever had girlfriend and boyfriends. With regard to sexual intercourse, one hundred seventy (26%) of respondents had sexual intercourse. Respondents mentioned that factors that motivated to practice sexual intercourses, eighty nine (52.4%) were love relationship, sixty three (37%) were peer influence and eighteen (10.6 %) were drinking alcohol. Twenty seven (4.1%) of respondents who faced sexual and reproductive health problems, such as, unintended pregnancy ten (37%), abortion four (14.8%) and Chlamydia thirty were (48.2%).
Knowledge and source of information about VCT: With regard to knowledge of VCT, 81.7% of study participants knew about VCT and 56.1% of respondent’s, reported that media (TV) was the major source of information about VCT. From the study participants 32.6% respondents were discussed with parents on the issue of VCT in the past time .Student mentioned that, the reasons not discussed with parents on the issue of VCT, not necessary 49.9%, fear of family 10.6% and cultural taboos 55.3%.
Table 2: Percentage distribution of study population by knowledge and source of information about VCT in Gondar town 2019
Variables
|
Frequency
|
Percent
|
Do you know about VCT
|
Yes
|
534
|
81.7
|
No
|
120
|
18.3
|
Where you got source of information about VCT*
|
From health professional
|
226
|
34.6
|
From radio
|
228
|
34.9
|
From television
|
367
|
56.1
|
From newspaper
|
99
|
15.1
|
From teachers
|
210
|
32.1
|
From friends
|
170
|
26
|
Discussed with parents on the issue of VCT in the past time
|
Yes
|
213
|
32.6
|
No
|
441
|
67.4
|
Reasons not discussed about VCT *
|
Cultural taboos
|
244
|
55.3
|
Not necessary
|
220
|
49.9
|
Fear
|
48
|
10.9
|
Source: Filed Survey, 2019 * Multiple responses
VCT Services Utilization: The study revealed that 48.3% of respondents utilized VCT services. The main reasons for not utilizing VCT service listed by adolescents, to know the status 89.2%, for marriage purpose 5.1% and self-suspicion 5.7%. Among study participants the place where you got VCT services, most of respondents mention that, from government health center 41.1% followed by private health center 32.6%.
Table 3: Percentage distribution of study population by VCT services utilization in Gondar town 2019
Variables
|
frequency
|
Percent
|
Ever used VCT service
|
Yes
|
316
|
48.3
|
No
|
338
|
51.7
|
The reasons undergo VCT*
|
To know the status
|
282
|
89.2
|
For marriage
|
16
|
5.1
|
Self-suspicion
|
18
|
5.7
|
Where you got VCT services *
|
From government hospital
|
96
|
30.4
|
From gov,t health center
|
130
|
41.1
|
From private health center
|
103
|
32.6
|
From FGAE
|
56
|
17.7
|
STI diagnosis and treatment
|
Yes
|
88
|
13.5
|
No
|
566
|
86.5
|
Source: Field Survey, 2019 *Multiple responses
Factors associated with VCT services utilization: Bivariate analysis were computed to assess factors associated with VCT services utilization. First the degree of association between independent and outcome variables was assessed using bivariate analysis.
Table 4: Bivariate analysis of factors associated with VCT service utilization among preparatory school students in Gondar town, 2019
Variables
|
VCT Use
|
Yes
|
No
|
X2
|
df
|
P-value
|
Sex
|
Male
|
131
|
120
|
2.202
|
1
|
0.138
|
Female
|
185
|
218
|
Age
|
<18
|
177
|
237
|
13.387
|
1
|
0.000
|
>18
|
139
|
101
|
Place of birth
|
Rural
|
94
|
67
|
8.141
|
1
|
0.004
|
Urban
|
222
|
271
|
Marital status
|
Single
|
303
|
333
|
3.308
|
1
|
0.069
|
Married
|
13
|
5
|
Mothers educational level
|
Not formal education
|
167
|
139
|
9.209
|
1
|
0.010
|
Primary school
|
49
|
61
|
Secondary& above
|
100
|
138
|
Ever had girl / boyfriends
|
Yes
|
127
|
55
|
45.333
|
1
|
0.000
|
No
|
189
|
283
|
Ever had sexual intercourse
|
Yes
|
122
|
48
|
49.309
|
1
|
0.000
|
No
|
194
|
280
|
Discussed with parents on the issue of VCT
|
Yes
|
137
|
76
|
31.444
|
1
|
0.000
|
No
|
179
|
262
|
Media exposure
|
Yes
|
184
|
183
|
7.167
|
1
|
0.000
|
No
|
107
|
63
|
High cost for VCT services
|
Yes
|
52
|
61
|
2.122
|
1
|
0.145
|
No
|
75
|
128
|
Waiting time before got VCT in health institution
|
<60 minutes
|
113
|
179
|
2.787
|
1
|
0.095
|
>60 minutes
|
14
|
10
|
Source: Field Survey, 2019
On bivariate analysis, the factors were found to be significantly associated with VCT services utilization were ,sex, age, place of birth, marital status, mother’s education, ever had sexual intercourse, media exposure, ever had girl or boy friends, discussed with parents, cost and waiting time before got VCT P-value <0.25. These variables which were significant on bivariate analysis were entered into multivariate analysis by using enter. After that, mother’s education, age, place of birth and discussed with parents on the issue of VCT in the past time were found to be significantly and independently associated with VCT services utilization at P- value <0.05.
Table 5: Bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with VCT service utilization among preparatory school students in Gondar town, 2019
Variables
|
VCT Use
|
Odds Ratio(OR)
|
Yes
|
No
|
B
|
COR(95%CI)
|
AOR(95%CI)
|
Sex
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male
|
131
|
120
|
|
1
|
1
|
Female
|
185
|
218
|
0.252(0.218)
|
0.777(0.567-1.066)
|
1.244 (0.855-1.810)
|
Age
|
|
|
|
|
|
<18 years
|
177
|
237
|
|
1
|
1
|
>18 Years
|
139
|
101
|
0.783(0.443)
|
2.188(1.519-3.153)
|
0.642(0.453-0.909)*
|
Place of birth
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural
|
94
|
67
|
|
1
|
1
|
Urban
|
222
|
271
|
0.538(0.579)
|
1.713 (1.195- 2.455 )
|
1.785 (1.090-2.921)*
|
Marital Status
|
|
|
|
|
|
Single
|
303
|
333
|
|
1
|
1
|
Ever married
|
13
|
5
|
1.050(-0.895)
|
2.857 (1.007- 8.109 )
|
2.448 (0.754- 7.949 )
|
Mother’s educational level
|
|
|
|
|
Not formal education
|
167
|
139
|
|
1
|
1
|
Primary school
|
49
|
61
|
0.403 ( 0.482 )
|
1.496 (0.965-2.318)
|
1.619 (0.846 -3.098 )
|
Secondary &above
|
100
|
138
|
0.506 (0.763)
|
1.658 (1.178 -2.334 )
|
2.144 (1.118-4.111 )*
|
Ever had boy/girlfriends
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
127
|
55
|
1.241 (0.416)
|
3.458 (2.398-4.986)
|
1.517 (0.747-3.080 )
|
No
|
189
|
283
|
|
1
|
1
|
Ever had sexual intercourse
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
122
|
48
|
1.335(0.669)
|
3.799 (2.598-5.557)
|
1.953 (0.938-4.063)
|
No
|
194
|
290
|
|
1
|
1
|
Discussed with parents on the issue of VCT
|
|
|
Yes
|
137
|
76
|
0.970 (0.712)
|
2.638(1.880-3.702)
|
2.038(1.423-2.920)**
|
No
|
179
|
262
|
|
1
|
1
|
Media exposure
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
184
|
183
|
0.524(0.363)
|
1.689 (1.164-2.452)
|
1.437 (0.967-2.137)
|
No
|
107
|
63
|
|
1
|
1
|
High cost for VCT services
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
52
|
61
|
0.375 (0. 297)
|
1.455(0.912-2.321)
|
1.346 (0.824-2.200)
|
No
|
75
|
128
|
|
1
|
1
|
Waiting time before got VCT in health institution
|
|
<60 minutes
|
113
|
179
|
0.796(0.561)
|
2.218(0.953-5.163)
|
0.571 (0.232-1.401)
|
> 60 minutes
|
14
|
10
|
|
1
|
1
|
Source: Field Survey, 2019
NB 1=reference category= COR=Crude odds ratio, AOR=Adjusted odds ratio*P-value <0.05, **P-value<0.01.