HIV Risk Factors and Risk Perception Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Results From a Population-Based Survey in Western Kenya, 2018

Abstract

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) is 2-fold to 3-fold higher than that in adolescent boys and young men. Understanding AGYW's perception of HIV risk is essential for HIV prevention efforts. Methods:We analyzed data from a HIV biobehavioral survey conducted in western Kenya in 2018. Data from AGYW aged 15-24 years who had a documented HIV status were included. We calculated weighted prevalence and evaluated factors associated with outcomes of interest (HIV infection and high risk perception) using generalized linear models to calculate prevalence ratios.Results: A total of 3828 AGYW were included; 63% were aged 15-19 years. HIV prevalence was 4.5% and 14.5% of sexually active AGYW had high risk perception. Over 70% of participants had accessed HIV testing and counseling in the past 12 months. Factors associated with both HIV infection and high risk perception included having an HIV-positive partner or partner with unknown status and having a sexually transmitted infection in the past 12 months. Having an older (by $10 years) partner was associated with HIV infection, but not high risk perception. Less than 30% of sexually active AGYW with 3 or more HIV risk factors had high perception of HIV risk. Conclusion:Gaps in perceived HIV risk persist among AGYW in Kenya. High access to HIV testing and prevention services in this population highlights platforms through which AGYW may be reached with improved risk counseling, and to increase uptake of HIV prevention strategies.

Prevalence and determinants of not testing for HIV among young adult women in Papua New Guinea: findings from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2016–2018

“…Studies have shown that factors such as peer pressure, lower education, coercion, substance use (tobacco and alcohol use), poor parental or guardian attachment and exposure to pornographic materials were associated with an early sexual debut 61–63. Furthermore, a lack of HIV knowledge and low-risk perception have been considered a potential barrier to HIV testing among adolescent women 64. This could be a likely reason why young women were not tested for HIV in this study.…”

HIV Risk Perception and Assessment among Youths in Rivers State, Nigeria: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study

“…Considering the synergy between HIV and risky sexual behaviour, another study revealed that more (54.6%) out of school youth had a low HIV risk perception as compared to university students (45.4%) [35]. Another study among adolescent girls and young women found that the sexually active who did not have a known HIV-positive status reported having low HIV risk perception; 13% reported high risk perception, and 14% did not know their perceived level of risk [37]. In another survey, the majority of students (72.5%) assessed their risk as low, 8.5% assessed their risk as high and 19.1% did not know their risk [38].…”

Prevalence and determinants of not testing for HIV among young adult women in Papua New Guinea: findings from the 2016–2018 Demographic and Health Survey

“…[62–64] Furthermore, a lack of HIV knowledge and low-risk perception have been considered a potential barrier to HIV testing among adolescent women. [65] This could be a likely reason why young women were not tested for HIV in this study. The precocious sexual debut predisposes young women to adverse psychological and health outcomes.…”