Assessment of Level of HIV/AIDS Preventive Self-Efficacy and Associated Factors Among Regular Undergraduate Students of Madda Walabu University, Southeast Ethiopia, 2020. A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract Background: Self-efficacy for HIV prevention is described as a person’s belief in his/her capacity to carry out necessary actions to perform a specific behavior for HIV prevention. This study aimed to assess level of HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy and associated factors among regular undergraduate students of Madda Walabu University, Southeast Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from February 15 to 20, 2020. Four hundred forty-two study participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was entered to Epi Data version 4.6.0.2 and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed and p value less than 0.05 was used to determine the level of significance. Result: The mean level of HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy among regular undergraduate students of Madda Walabu University was found to be 74.58+19.98. Being female [AOR=1.76(1.04-2.81)], in field of health science [AOR= 1.92(1.10-3.36)], second year of study [AOR=2.77(1.55-4.94)] and drinking alcohol [AOR=2.9(1.61- 5.23)] were found to be factors associated with higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. Whereas, exposed to pornography [AOR=0.53(0.33-0.85)] was found to be factor associated with lower HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy.Conclusion: The mean HIV /AIDS preventive self-efficacy of the participants in this study area were found to be low. Sex, field and year of study, drinking alcohol and ever had watched pornography were factors found to be significantly associated with HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. Staffs should be cooperative in educating their students to boost their self-efficacy.