Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

Malami Muhammad Bello; Elizabeth Enene Inoh; Danmadami Mohammad Abdul’aziz; Hudu Garba Illo; Abdullahi Shehu; Zaharadeen Muhammad Dan-inna

doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

Original Article
Online Published: 05 Jul 2026

J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(3): 187-197

doi: 10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

Malami Muhammad Bello, Elizabeth Enene Inoh, Danmadami Mohammad Abdul’aziz, Hudu Garba Illo, Abdullahi Shehu, Zaharadeen Muhammad Dan-inna.

Abstract
Background: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to pose significant public health challenges globally, particularly among young adults and university students. The burden of HIV infection is high in sub-Saharan Africa, and youths account for about 40% of new HIV infections. Despite the availability of HIV testing services (HTS) in Nigeria, uptake remains suboptimal among young people.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of HTS among undergraduate students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in April 2024 among 302 undergraduate students who were selected by a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected with a set of pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 25 software package.
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 23.9 ± 3.6 years, and most were between 15 and 24 years old (62.9%). More than two-thirds had heard of HTS 210 (69.5%), and more than half knew where to access them (n = 173, 57.3%). More than half of the students (152, 50.3%) demonstrated good knowledge of HTS. Although HTS awareness and knowledge were high, only 96 (31.8%) had ever utilized HTS. Utilization of HTS was significantly associated with age (p = 0.024), sex (p < 0.001), marital status (p < 0.001), and religion (p = 0.031). It was higher among older students, females, married individuals, and Christians.
Conclusion: Despite good knowledge and awareness, HTS utilization remains low, and it is mainly due to a lack of interest in the services. HTS was significantly influenced by age, gender, marital status, and religion. There is a need for targeted interventions, particularly for young, male, unmarried, and Muslim students, including enhanced outreach, stigma reduction, decentralization, and subsidization of HTS.

Key words: HIV infection, HIV testing services, knowledge, utilization, undergraduate students

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How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Bello MM, Inoh EE, Abdul'aziz DM, Illo HG, Shehu A, Dan-inna ZM. Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(3): 187-197. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

Web Style

Bello MM, Inoh EE, Abdul'aziz DM, Illo HG, Shehu A, Dan-inna ZM. Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. https://www.wisdomgale.com/jphcm/?mno=273811 [Access: July 08, 2026]. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Bello MM, Inoh EE, Abdul'aziz DM, Illo HG, Shehu A, Dan-inna ZM. Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(3): 187-197. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Bello MM, Inoh EE, Abdul'aziz DM, Illo HG, Shehu A, Dan-inna ZM. Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. (2026), [cited July 08, 2026]; 5(3): 187-197. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

Harvard Style

Bello, M. M., Inoh, . E. E., Abdul'aziz, . D. M., Illo, . H. G., Shehu, . A. & Dan-inna, . Z. M. (2026) Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med, 5 (3), 187-197. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

Turabian Style

Bello, Malami Muhammad, Elizabeth Enene Inoh, Danmadami Mohammad Abdul'aziz, Hudu Garba Illo, Abdullahi Shehu, and Zaharadeen Muhammad Dan-inna. 2026. Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine, 5 (3), 187-197. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

Chicago Style

Bello, Malami Muhammad, Elizabeth Enene Inoh, Danmadami Mohammad Abdul'aziz, Hudu Garba Illo, Abdullahi Shehu, and Zaharadeen Muhammad Dan-inna. "Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria." Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine 5 (2026), 187-197. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Bello, Malami Muhammad, Elizabeth Enene Inoh, Danmadami Mohammad Abdul'aziz, Hudu Garba Illo, Abdullahi Shehu, and Zaharadeen Muhammad Dan-inna. "Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria." Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine 5.3 (2026), 187-197. Print. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Bello, M. M., Inoh, . E. E., Abdul'aziz, . D. M., Illo, . H. G., Shehu, . A. & Dan-inna, . Z. M. (2026) Utilization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Services Among Undergraduate Students In Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine, 5 (3), 187-197. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20250728114139