This study was conducted in Gaborone city, Botswana. Botswana is a small country in south
central part of Africa with a population of 1.7 million (Botswana population census, 2001)
The overall aim of the study was to examine barriers and facilitating factors influencing the
readiness for and acceptability of voluntary HIV testing among the youth aged 18-24 years in
Gaborone, Botswana.
A quantitative methodology was used in this study. A multistage sampling strategy was also
used to recruit one hundred and forty four (144) participants. Information on sociodemographic
characteristic, knowledge and utilization of VCT sexual behaviour and
perception of risk was gathered by use of a self administered structured questionnaire.
STATA version 8 was used to analyse the results of this study. Summary statistics, chisquare
test and logistic regression were employed in the analysis. Participants comprised of
students from senior secondary schools and tertiary education institutions from the sampled
schools of Gaborone. The modal level of education was secondary and the more than half of
participants (56%) were females. Their age ranged from 18-24 years. The majority of
participants (75%) were sexually active and just over a third 36% of all participants
considered themselves not at risk of HIV. VCT knowledge was reported by a significant
proportion (59%) who also reported knowledge of VCT sites. HIV testing was reported by a
minority of participants 42% and the most commonly reported reason for testing was media
campaigns encouraging HIV testing whilst the most commonly reported reason for not testing
was never been sexually active.
Findings from this study revealed that, HIV test acceptance among the youth is still an area
that needs greater attention. The facilitation of HIV testing amongst the young people and
removal of barriers to testing can be achieved through a focus on use of strategies that seem
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to work such as the media. Also, there is need to ensure utilization of VCT services by youth
through making them understand of the role that VCT plays in preventing HIV and AIDS.