FEAR AND HIV ANTI-BODY TEST AMONG UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST STUDENTS

Since HIV was identified as the cause of AIDS, variety of tests have been developed to help diagnose HIV infection and to determine its progress. Voluntary counseling and testing was introduced to prepare clients for HIV test because it is accompanied by fear.
The study analyses perceptions on HIV/AIDS among University of Cape Coast students. It is a quantitative study which employed questionnaires to collect data. Chi-square statistic was used to test the relationship between fear and decision to test for HIV.
Results indicate that 93% had knowledge about HIV test. More students (73%) were frightened to go for HIV test. Students (76.3%) perceived that when tested positive to HIV, they would be stigmatized, grieved or rejected. The students (26%) who tested for HIV were compelled: the prominent reasons were traveling requirements and medical conditions. Females were more frightened than males to test for HIV. Most of the married students were prepared to go for the test than unmarried students.
It is profitable to test for HIV but its perceptions make it difficult. Therefore, opinion leaders and healthcare professionals should educate students to correct wrong perceptions about HIV/AIDS to eliminate fear to reduce the spread and burden of HIV/AIDS pandemic.