Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV has been promoted as a strategy to prevent HIV pandemics by changing sexual behaviour. Despite the provision of VCT in countries with generalized or high-burden epidemics, including Nigeria, the extent of its influence on behavioural change remains a conjecture. The main objective of this study was to examine the influence of HIV VCT on sexual behaviour changes among youths in Nigeria. The study utilized 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data. Data were analysed from a nationally representative sample drawn from 8046 females and 6031 males aged 15–24 giving a total sample of 14,077 never-married youths. Descriptive and analytical analyses were carried out, including multivariate logistic regression. The study found a low uptake of HIV VCT and regional variation in behavioural changes between female and male youths. Voluntary HIV counselling and testing was found to be a protective factor for condom use at last sex for female youths, but significantly reduced the likelihood of primary sexual abstinence for both females and males, as well as having a single sexual partner for female youths. After controlling HIV VCT with other variables, certain socioeconomic factors were found to be significantly associated with behavioural changes. Thus, the attitudes of most Nigerian youths towards voluntary HIV counselling and testing needs to be improved through socioeconomic factors for healthy sexual activity. To achieve this, government and non-governmental organizations, as well as religious leaders and policymakers, should engage in appropriate and long-term activities directed at the sexual health needs of never-married youths, through voluntary HIV counselling and testing, to encourage them to change their sexual behaviour.

中文翻译：

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尼日利亚青年的艾滋病毒自愿咨询和检测以及行为改变

艾滋病毒自愿咨询和检测 (VCT) 已被推广为通过改变性行为来预防艾滋病毒大流行的战略。尽管在包括尼日利亚在内的流行病普遍或高负担的国家提供了 VCT，但其对行为改变的影响程度仍然是一个猜想。本研究的主要目的是检查 HIV VCT 对尼日利亚青少年性行为变化的影响。该研究使用了 2013 年尼日利亚人口与健康调查 (NDHS) 数据。数据分析来自一个具有全国代表性的样本，该样本取自 8046 名女性和 6031 名 15-24 岁的男性，总共有 14,077 名未婚青年样本。进行了描述性和分析性分析，包括多变量逻辑回归。该研究发现，女性和男性青年之间对 HIV VCT 的接受率较低，并且行为变化存在区域差异。自愿 HIV 咨询和检测被认为是女性青年最后一次性行为时使用安全套的保护因素，但显着降低了女性和男性初次性禁欲的可能性，以及女性青年只有单一性伴侣的可能性。在用其他变量控制 HIV VCT 后，发现某些社会经济因素与行为变化显着相关。因此，需要通过社会经济因素来改善大多数尼日利亚青年对自愿艾滋病毒咨询和检测的态度，以促进健康的性活动。为实现这一目标，政府和非政府组织，以及宗教领袖和政策制定者，