Change in sexual behaviour among undergraduates in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria: the role of voluntary counselling and testing

Onipede Wusu, Lagos State University

This study examines the likelihood of VCT reducing risky sexual behaviour among undergraduates in Lagos Metropolis. A total of 625 undergraduates in the metropolis were interviewed in 2008. A multistage sampling technique was adopted. Data analysis indicates that 27.1% of males and 28.7% of females ever visited a VCT centre. About 5.4% of male respondents and 5.2% of females reported positive HIV status. The average number of heterosexual partners before visit to VCT centre among the respondents was 3.17 and declined to 2.27 (males) and 2.36 and declined to 1.63 (females) after visit to VCT centres among females. T-test analysis shows that the differences are statistically significant (p=0.000). The proportion of male respondents who engaged in frequent sex also declined from 35.8% to 24.1% (males) and from 25% to 24.7% among females, after visiting VCT centres. Thus VCT is capable of reducing risky sexual behaviour among young people.