Uptake of HIV testing among 15-19-year-old adolescents in Zambia

Adolescent HIV testing rates remain low with many unaware of their status. We explored factors associated with HIV testing uptake among adolescents aged 15-19 years using data from the Zambian Demographic Health Survey 2013-2014. The sample consisted of 7030 adolescents of which 42% reported ever testing for HIV. We found that as the age of a respondent increased so did their odds of testing (aOR = 1.26; 1.21-1.32); females had higher odds of testing than males (aOR = 1.719; 1.53-1.92); those with secondary or higher education (aOR = 3.64; 2.23-5.96) and those with primary education (aOR=1.97; 1.21-3.19) had higher odds of testing than those with no education; those who were formerly married or living with a partner (aOR = 4.99; 2.32-10.75) and those who were currently married or living with a partner (aOR = 4.76; 3.65-6.21) had higher odds of testing than those who were never married or lived with a partner; as the age at first sexual intercourse increased so did the odds of testing (aOR = 1.07; 1.06-1.08); and as HIV knowledge increased so did the odds of testing (aOR = 1.13; 1.06-1.19). The data points to population level social determinants that may be targeted to increase testing among adolescents.