Prevalence of HIV testing and its determinants among youths in the Gambia: from 2019/2020 demographic health survey

Introduction: HIV is a pathogen that attacks the immune system. Globally, 3.9 million youth aged 15-24 years living with the virus in 2017. In Sub-Saharan Africa, girls and boys accounted for 63% and 50% respectively. The Gambia, youth accounted for 37% of all HIV cases. Objective: To determine the prevalence and determinant factors of HIV testing among youth15 – 29 years in The Gambia.Methodology: Secondary data were used for analysis. This study population was 7438 youth aged 15 to 29 years. Sociodemographic and Economic knowledge about HIV/AIDS, risky sexual behaviors, and mass media exposure were used as predictors of HIV testing. Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression were among the statistical tests used.Results: The prevalence of HIV testing among youths was 66.4% in The Gambia. After adjusting for confounders. In WCR2, CRR and URR, the youth were 1.26, 1.68 and 1.28 times more likely to be tested for HIV respectively. The youth who had moderate comprehensive knowledge related to HIV were 17% less likely to test for HIV.Conclusion: Our findings revealed that age, gender, marital status, educational level, wealth index, health region, comprehensive knowledge, sex debut and reading newspapers were significantly associated with HIV testing. Our study recommends promotion of HIV self-testing, index testing, and partner testing among youth in the union. Identifying the determinants of HIV testing and protective factors which will inform healthcare services providers to better understand factors associated with HIV testing for target intervention, equity fund allocation, and improve HIV/AIDS response policy of The Gambia.