ISSN 2039-2117 (online) ISSN 2039-9340 (print) Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy Vol 5 No 15 July 2014 458 Strategies to Boost the Uptake of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) by University Students Mbengo F Department of Child Welfare South Africa, QwaQwa, P. O Box 6031, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866. South Africa Email: fmbe2002@yahoo.com Ngirande H Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus) Email: hlanganipai@gmail.com Ndou ND Advanced Nursing Science Department, University of Venda, South Africa Mavundla TR Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, P O Box 392, Unisa. South Africa, 0003 Doi:10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p458 Abstract Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is internationally recognised as a gateway to HIV prevention, care and treatment. However, VCT uptake among university students is still low. As there is presently no cure for HIV/AIDS, strategies to boost VCT uptake among university students are critically important. This study explored the strategies to improve the uptake of VCT by university students. The study employed an exploratory and descriptive qualitative study. Focus group discussions (FGD) and field notes were used to collect data. Analysis was done using thematic analysis. The study revealed that VCT services uptake for university students could be improved by increased resource allocation (incentives, human and infrastructural resources), increased awareness campaigns, and improved counselling and making VCT services more accessible. Keywords: HIV, AIDS/HIV-antibody testing, voluntary, counselling. 1. Introduction, Background of the Study and Problem Statement Globally, Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality (UNAIDS, 2011). Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region in the world with an estimated 22.5 million people living with HIV (Charles, Kweka, Mahande, Barongo, Shekalaghe, Nkya, Lowassa, & Mahande, 2009.) South Africa with an estimated 5.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS bears the highest HIV/AIDS burden than any other country in the world (UNAIDS, 2011). The South African higher education sector is no exception and is being affected fundamentally by the epidemic (HEAIDS, 2010). University students fall within the sexually active segment of the population, hence are at risk of contracting HIV. Various preventive strategies such as abstinence, avoidance of multiple sexual partners, condom use, Voluntary Counselling Testing (VCT), male circumcision and treatment of HIV-infected individuals have been employed to curb the spread of infection as there is presently no cure (Daniyam, Agaba, & Agaba, 2010). VCT is a process in which an individual undergoes counselling, enabling him or her to make an informed choice about being tested for HIV (Izugbara, Undie, Mudege & Ezeh, 2009). According to Granich, Gilks, Dye, De Cock and Williams (2009), the benefits of knowledge of HIV status can be seen at the individual, community and population levels. These include: For the individual – enhanced ability to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV; access to HIV care, treatment and support; and protection of unborn infants. For the community – a wider knowledge of HIV status and its links to interventions can lead