Modelling self-assessed vulnerability to HIV and its associated factors in a HIV-burdened country

Abstract

Background: Globally, individuals’ self-assessment of vulnerability to HIV infection is important to maintain safer sexual behaviour and reduce risky behaviours. However, determinants of self-perceived risk of HIV infection are not well documented and differ. We assessed the level of self-perceived vulnerability to HIV infection in Nigeria and also identified its risk factors. Methods: We explored a recent nationally representative data with self-reported vulnerability (‘high’, ‘low’ and ‘no risk at all’) to HIV infection as the outcome of interest. Data were weighted and association between the outcomes and the risk factors determined. We used simple ordered logit regression to model relationship between the outcome variable and risk factors, and controlled for the significant variables in multiple ordered logistic regression at 5% significance level. Results: About 74% had good knowledge of HIV transmission and 6% had experienced STI recently. The likelihood of assessing oneself as having ‘no risk at all’ was 50% and for ‘high chances’ was 1.6%. Self-perceived high risk of HIV was higher among those who recently experienced STI (5.6%) than those who did not (1.7%), and also higher among those who recently engaged in transactional sex and had multiple sexual partners. The odds of good knowledge of HIV transmission on high self-perceived vulnerability to HIV was 19% higher than poor knowledge (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12–1.27). Also, respondents who recently had multiple sexual partners were 72% (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.60–1.86) more likely to report self as having high risk. Younger respondents aged 14–19 years had higher odds of 41% (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.29–1.55) to perceive self as having high vulnerability to HIV than older respondents. Conclusion: High vulnerability to HIV infection was reported among younger respondents, those with history of STIS and those who engage in multiple sexual relations. Despite high level of risky sexual behaviour and good knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention found in this study, self-perceived vulnerability to HIV generally is low. For the low perception found in this study to translate to low chance of HIV infection, there is need for all stakeholders to embark on risk reduction initiatives through sexual education that would minimise risky sexual practices and ensuring availability and affordability of HIV prevention methods.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV INFECTION AMONG CLIENTS ACCESSING HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING SERVICES IN A SECONDARY REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN LAGOS, NIGERIA: Factors associated with HIV infection

“…The association between knowledge of HIV and HIV infection has been found to be inconsistent from several reports in different parts of the world. While some authors have documented having good knowledge of HIV does not translate to positive behavioural change and low HIV prevalence (Fagbamigbe et al, 2017;Gobopamang, 2011), others documented that poor knowledge of HIV transmission routes to be a risk factor for HIV infection (Hong et al, 2012). In the present study, the odds of HIV infection was higher among clients not informed of the routes of HIV transmission, prevention of HIV transmission and clients with poor knowledge of HIV.…”

Factors associated with low knowledge about sexually transmitted infections in subnormal agglomerate, in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Although the concept of vulnerability has been investigated in numerous studies (Ayres et al, 2006;Fagbamigbe et al, 2017;Mahapatra et al, 2018;Queiroz et al, 2019), only one study has investigated the association between the three dimensions and level of knowledge about STIs (Gomes et al, 2017). Moreover, no such investigation has been carried out in populations of subnormal agglomerates in urban areas in Brazil, particularly the Brazilian Amazon.…”

Partner faithfulness and sexual reproductive health practices in Botswana: does perception of partner infidelity influence sexual risk behaviours of people aged 10–34 years?

“…When people have a perception (correct or incorrect) of their partner's faithfulness, this is likely to influence their sexual and reproductive behaviour and practices. In fact, studies have found evidence of a significant association between the perception of partner unfaithfulness and having multiple sexual partnerships (Steffenson et al, 2011;Cox et al, 2014;Chialepeh & Sathiyasusuman, 2015;Kenyon et al, 2016), and negative outcomes such as STIs (Fishbein et al, 2004;Fagbamigbe et al, 2017) and HIV infection (Mishra, 2009;Mah & Shelton, 2011). As for a more specific case, Mishra et al (2009) found a significant inverse association between level of partner faithfulness and HIV infection among cohabiting couples in sub-Saharan Africa.…”

“…Norms about partner faithfulness can be quite different in different social contexts or social circles (Young, 2005), but generally most such norms prescribe actors to exchange truthful information regarding the kind of social and sexual life they have (Whisman & Snyder, 2007;Parker, 2009). Moreover, several studies in sub-Saharan Africa have shown that infidelity has negative social consequences such as risky sexual behaviours, broken trust and even divorce (Cox et al, 2014;Kenyon et al, 2016;Fagbamigbe et al, 2017).…”