HIV risk and associated factors among male undergraduate students at Makerere University

Abstract

Introduction: In Uganda, the HIV epidemic has had a devastating impact, with an estimated 1.4 million people living with HIV in 2020. The current HIV epidemic control efforts include strategies to reach all young people and leave no one behind. Males are disproportionately affected by HIV, and it is crucial to understand the factors contributing to high HIV risk among male undergraduate students at Makerere University in Uganda. Hence, there is a need to determine HIV risk among male university students and to support these efforts. Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence of high HIV risk and its associated factors among male undergraduate students at Makerere University. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 450 male undergraduate students at Makerere University in May 2024. A self-administered questionnaire instrument was used to collect data, allowing for a snapshot assessment of the knowledge, and sexual behaviors related to HIV risk of infection among male students at Makerere University. During sampling, the nine colleges and one school were assumed as strata and a proportional to-size technique was used to determine the number of male students who were randomly selected from each college after obtaining a compiled list of the number of registered male undergraduate students by the 2022/2023 academic year from the office of college registrars. Data were analyzed using STATA version 15, applying descriptive statistics and modified Poisson regression to assess independent associations with HIV risk. Clustering was adjusted for using survey methods. Results: The prevalence of high HIV risk among the male undergraduate students at Makerere University was 38.0% (95%CI: 33.5-42.7). Having only one sexual partner (aPR 1.74, 95%CI:1.12-2.71, p-value=0.014), having ≥2 sexual partners (aPR 3.31, 95%CI:2.25-4.87, p value=0.001), and not concerned about contracting HIV (aPR 1.26, 95%CI:1.10-1.45, p value=0.001) were significantly associated with HIV risk. xi Conclusion: Almost two in five male undergraduate students were found to be at high risk of HIV. Number of sexual partners and concern about HIV infection were associated with high HIV risk. The Ministry of Health under the department of the AIDS should design interventions guide the Ministry of Education and Sports to adopt them which are aimed at promoting safer sexual practices and strategies effective in reducing the overall high risk of HIV infection in this population and highlighting the importance of sexual health education, consistence condom use, and other risk-reduction programs targeted at young men mainly those the higher educational institutions.