HIV testing uptake and determinants among adolescents and young people in Burundi: a cross-sectional analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey 2016-2017.

Objectives: To assess HIV testing uptake and its determinants among adolescents and young adults.

Design: Cross-sectional design involving analysis of 2016 Demographic and Health Survey data.

Setting: Nationally representative survey of Burundi.

Participants: A total of 7218 young women and 2860 young men were included.

Primary And Secondary Outcome: We estimated the proportion of adolescent (15-19 years) and young adult (20-24 years) women and men who had tested for HIV and received results in the 12 months preceding the survey. Multivariable logistic models for determining predictors of HIV testing uptake were fitted among respondents aged 15-24 regardless of sexual activity in the 12 months before the survey and separately among a subset that reporting having had sex in the 12 months preceding the survey.

Results: An estimated 27.1% (95% CI 25.8% to 28.4%) women and 16.6% (95% CI 15.1% to 18.1%) men had tested for HIV and received results in the 12 months preceding the survey. The proportion was more than twice as high among those aged 2024 years compared with 1519 years, among both sexes. In multivariable analysis, older age (2024 years) was associated with HIV testing (adjusted OR (aOR): 1.62, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.91) among women; (aOR: 1.78, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.40) among men. Higher educational level (aOR: 1.40, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.76) was significantly associated with HIV testing uptake among women. Male circumcision status, condom use, number of sex partners, history of STIs were not associated with HIV testing among the subset that reported having had sex in the 12 months preceding the survey.

Conclusion: Despite the interventions implemented to reach the 90-90-90 UNAIDS goals, HIV testing among youth in Burundi was low. Youth-friendly health centres should be part of strategies to stimulate young people to increase uptake of HIV preventive services in Burundi.