Introduction HIV testing is central to early diagnosis and HIV prevention, yet uptake among youth remains suboptimal in many low- and middle-income countries. Our study examined HIV testing uptake and its associated factors among youth aged 15–24 years in Myanmar. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2015–16 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS), restricting the sample to youth aged 15–24 years ( N = 5,185). Survey-weighted descriptive statistics and bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with HIV testing, with results reported as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was defined as p 0.05, with analyses accounting for the complex sampling design. Results Overall, 10.9% of youth reported ever having been tested for HIV. In multivariable analyses, youth aged 20–24 years had higher odds of HIV testing than those aged 15–19 years (AOR = 2.57; 95% CI: 1.94, 3.39; p 0.001), and males had higher odds than females (AOR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.27, 2.18; p 0.001). Youth who had ever had sexual intercourse were substantially more likely to have been tested (AOR = 4.59; 95% CI: 3.54, 5.96; p 0.001). Conclusion HIV testing uptake among youth in Myanmar remains low, with testing concentrated among older and sexually experienced youth. Strengthening youth-friendly HIV testing strategies that proactively reach adolescents and socioeconomically disadvantaged youth is critical to improving early diagnosis and advancing HIV prevention and youth sexual and reproductive health in Myanmar.
Tint et al. (Mon,) studied this question.