Nurses/Midwifery Trainees’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Utilisation of HIV Testing/Counselling Service in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background and purpose: Despite HIV testing and counselling (HTC) being recognized as important elements of any effective prevention, detection, care, and management programmes across many societies as part of their primary health care package, it is surprising that research evidence on related issues, especially in developing countries like Ghana is sparse. This study examined the extent of knowledge, attitudes and utilisation of HIV testing, and counselling services among trainee nurses of the public nursing and midwifery training colleges in the Central Region of Ghana. Methods and results: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from 375 nursing and midwifery students using multistage sampling procedures. Findings showed that students’ HTC knowledge was high (85%) whereas attitudes toward HTC were rated positive (95%). However, HTC utilisation was low (47%). Further results revealed a statistically significant difference between class level and HTC utilisation (χ2 [1, N = 375] = 14.263, p = 0.000). In contrast, no statistically significant differences in student nurses’ class level and HTC knowledge (χ2 [1, N = 375] = 0.624, p = 0.475) as well as class level and attitudes toward HTC services (χ2 [1, N = 375] = 2.334, p = 0.158) were realized. Conclusion: The low HTC utilisation among the student nurses may potentially lead to missing opportunities for early diagnoses, care, treatment, and support services for primary, secondary or tertiary prevention modes. Organisation of programmes by college authorities on the importance of HTC and the need for student nurses to utilise these services is crucial.