Awareness and willingness to use oral HIV self-test and associated factor among Wollo University Health Science student in North East Ethiopia, 2023

Background: Use of oral HIV self-test is integral part of quality improvement of HIV prevention, care and treatment.  There is no evidence related to awareness and willingness to use oral HIV self-test. The aim of the study was to assess awareness and willingness to use oral HIV self-test and associated factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among Wollo University student. The data collection instrument was self-administered questionnaire. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the participant’s proportional to sample size. The final sample size was 373 medical students. SPSS version 26 was used to analyze data and the results were presented by using tables, Pie charts, and histograms. The study was analyzed using binary logistic regression and p value less than 0.25 was entered in Multi-variable logistic regression. Finally, p value less than 0.05 in multi-variable logistic regression was considered as statically significant. Odd ratio measured magnitude of association at 95% confidence interval.   Results: A total of 370 health science student were participated, at response rate of 98%. Prevalence of awareness and willingness among health science student toward use oral HIV self-test were 53 (14.32%) and 253 (68.38), respectively.  Factors such as participating in HIV program (AOR=3.27; CI: 1.30-8.21) and who had recent HIV risk (AOR=3.16; CI; 1.40-7.12) were more likely to had awareness toward oral HIV self-test.  Male student (AOR=1.74; CI; 1.02-2.82), who had recent HIV risk (AOR=3.36; CI: 1.40-8.08), recently tested for HIV (AOR=2.84; CI: 1.17-6.89) and who had STI (AOR=9.02; CI: 2.82-32.12) were more likely to be willingness to use oral HIV self-test in the future. Conclusions: This study showed that willingness to use HIV self-test in future was high. But awareness of HIV self-test is low. It is crucial to prioritize willingness and awareness activities particularly among sex of respondent, recent HIV risk, tested for HIV and STI client.