Prevalence of self-reported HIV testing and associated factors among adolescent girls and young women in South Africa: Results from a 2017 nationally representative population-based HIV survey

Objectives: This article estimated the prevalence of self-reported HIV testing and identified associated factors among sexually active adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), aged 15-24 years, in South Africa.Study design: This is a secondary data analysis of a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional multi-stage cluster survey of households in South Africa conducted in 2017.Methods: Descriptive statistics were used to describe AGYW characteristics and the multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with HIV testing. All analyses were adjusted for un-equal sampling probabilities using survey weights. Results: From the 1360 AGYW analysed (70.3% aged 20-24 years, 89.0% Black African, 95.5% unmarried, 88.7% unemployed), 1154 (estimate 85.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 83.0 to 88.1)) had ever tested for HIV. In adjusted analysis, AGYW who had been pregnant in the past 24 months (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 3.67, 95%CI: 1.68 to 8.02), were older (20-24 years: aOR 3.13, 95%CI: 1.86 to 5.28), or did not use condoms consistently compared to using them every time (almost every time: aOR 3.31, 95%CI: 1.07 to 10.22; sometimes: aOR 2.54, 95%CI: 1.29 to 4.98) had significantly higher odds of ever testing for HIV.Conclusions: This research identified an unmet need for HIV testing among AGYW and increasing awareness of HIV counselling and testing among AGYW in South Africa is recommended.