Background
Despite breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of human immune deficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), women are disproportionately affected. Understanding HIV/AIDS is a prerequisite for adopting behaviors that reduce the risk of HIV transmission. As a result, assessing women's awareness of HIV transmission and associated factors will aid in the development of effective prevention methods. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of HIV transmission and associated factors among Sierra Leonean women of reproductive age.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted on women aged 15 to 49, using data from the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey (n = 14,603). The prevalence of knowledge of HIV transmission was determined. Using Stata version 14, we used simple and multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with HIV transmission knowledge.
Results
The weighted prevalence of comprehensive knowledge of HIV transmission was 39.73%. The odds of having comprehensive knowledge of HIV were significantly higher with increasing age, 25–30 years old (AOR 1.47, 95% CI: 1.24–1.73), 30–49 years old (AOR 1.47, 95% CI:1.21–1.77), having secondary education (AOR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.17–1.54), richer wealth status (AOR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.21–1.94), residing in the southern region (AOR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.17–1.54), reading newspapers or magazines (AOR 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04–1.49), and using the internet (AOR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.18 1.65). While having delivered 2 or more children (AOR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.64–0.89) and belonging to Islam religion (AOR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.72–0.91) were associated with lower odds of having comprehensive knowledge of HIV transmission.
Conclusions
At the individual, household, and social/policy levels, factors linked to a higher likelihood of having comprehensive HIV transmission knowledge exist. Some of these factors can be used by HIV program planners and the government to create effective women's initiatives aimed at increasing HIV education and lowering HIV infection rates. HIV health education efforts, as well as increasing educational attainment, wealth status, and media access, are required.