Prevalence and correlates of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years in Malawi: evidence from the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey

Abstract

Background HIV epidemic remains a major public health issue in Malawi especially among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge (defined as correct knowledge of two major ways of preventing the sexual transmission of HIV and rejection of three misconceptions about HIV) is a key component of preventing new HIV infections among AGYW. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the correlates of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among AGYW in Malawi. Methods The study was based on cross-sectional data from the 2015–2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. It involved 10,422 AGYW aged 15–24 years. The outcome variable was comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model. All the analyses were performed using complex sample analysis procedure of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences to account for complex survey design. Results Approximately 42.2% of the study participants had comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Around 28% of the participants did not know that using condoms consistently can reduce the risk of HIV and 25% of the participants believed that mosquitoes could transmit HIV. Multivariable logistic regression model demonstrated that having higher education (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI: 2.35–3.75), belonging to richest households (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05–1.45), being from central region (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI:1.43–1.89), southern region (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.43–1.90),listening to radio at least once a week (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.15–1.40) and ever tested for HIV (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.68–2.09) were significantly correlated with comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Conclusions The findings indicate that comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among AGYW in Malawi is low. Various social-demographic characteristics were significantly correlated with comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge in this study. These findings suggest that public health programmes designed to improve comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge in Malawi should focus on uneducated young women, those residing in northern region and from poor households. There is also a need to target AGYW who have never tested for HIV with voluntary counselling and testing services. This measure might both improve their comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and awareness of their health status.

Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among adolescent girls in Rwanda: a nationwide cross-sectional study

“…We discovered that, despite the progress made, knowledge remains low but still higher than in many other countries, with nearly half of respondents (53.6%) correctly answering the six HIV/AIDS-related questions in the RDHS. This is consistent with a study assessing knowledge in various SSA countries, which found that Rwandan women had a greater sense of comprehensive knowledge than women in other countries in the region [33,34]. The study's results also indicate that Rwandan adolescent girls are relatively knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS transmission modes.…”

“…Education was found to have a positive in uence on comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS, with those having secondary level education being more knowledgeable than those with no education. This is not surprising given similar prior ndings in other countries such as Malawi [33], Kenya [35], Uganda [36],…”

Determinants of Comprehensive HIV knowledge among reproductive-age women in Gambia: Further analysis of recent Gambia demographic and health survey

“…This nding is in line with the studies done in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Malawi (13,16,25). Media has a great importance in creating awareness, enhancing knowledge, and changing health behavior of individuals as well as the community at large by delivering health information through the use of various channels (27).…”

“…They might have autonomy to decide on their health related aspects of life, and could access to health care services easily the other possible reason might be This might due to women attending secondary and higher education may get HIV related information either in the school curricula or in different extra-curricular activities like in different school clubs and education may also help people to be curious about their health as well as to seek information for their health. Educated women may search different information sources like the social media and internet web-sites of various organizations who are working targeted primarily on HIV which may help them to clear out misperceptions there by helping to develop comprehensive knowledge (13,24,25).…”

The Kasaba Quartet: The Impact of Card Games on Knowledge and Self-Efficacy HIV/AIDS Prevention

“…The inside of adolescents about HIV/AIDS with less is 48.7%, sufficient is 41%, and good is 10.3% [6]. Likewise, research on adolescent girls aged 15-24 years in Malawi found that 42.2% had comprehensive knowledge; the rest were still lacking [7]. Proper knowledge about HIV/AIDS is one of the factors in avoiding HIV transmission.…”