Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic among youth is largely ignored and remains invisible to both young people themselves and to the society as a whole. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the extent of perception risk of HIV and utilisation of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) service among high school students at Debre-berhan Town, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia.

Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2010 up to January 2011 among secondary school students at Debre-berhan Town. Perception risk and VCT use were considered as dependant variables. A stratified random sampling technique was used to recruit study participants by taking schools as strata. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data. Data were entered and analysed using SPSS version 17.0. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2010 up to January 2011 among secondary school students at Debre-berhan Town. Perception risk and VCT use were considered as dependant variables. A stratified random sampling technique was used to recruit study participants by taking schools as strata. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data. Data were entered and analysed using SPSS version 17.0. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Conclusion Some students were engaged in risky sexual behaviour even though they had heard about HIV/AIDS. The perception of risk for acquisition of HIV infection and utilisation of VCT were low. Thus, education on topic of HIV/AIDS through integrating as part of school curriculum and encouraging the existing health institutions to provide youth-friendly sexual counselling services including VCT for HIV are strongly recommended.

Disclosure of interest statement The authors declare that they have no any competing interests.