Prevalence of risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus among women of reproductive age in Sierra Leone: a 2019 nationwide survey

Abstract

Background and aim For over 40 years of the HIV/AIDS global epidemic, no effective cure nor vaccine is yet available, making the current control strategies focused on curbing new infections through risk reduction. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV risk factors and their associated socio-demographics among women of reproductive age in Sierra Leone. Methods We used weighted data from the Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS) of 2019 for 12,005 women aged 15–49 years. Multistage sampling was used to select study participants. Exposure to HIV risk factors was considered if a woman reported at least one of the following; having multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, non-condom use for the unmarried, and having other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We, then, conducted multivariable logistic regression to explore the associated socio-demographics. All the analyses were done using SPSS (version 25). Results Of the 12,005 women, 38.1% (4577/12005) (95% confidence interval (CI) 37.3–39.0) had at least one of the four risk factors. Women of 15 to 19 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.34, 95% CI 1.00–1.80) and 20 to 34 years (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.05–1.49) had more odds of having HIV risk factors compared to those of 35 to 49 years. Urban residents (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.17–1.89) and those from the Northwestern region (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.26–2.60) were also more likely to encounter HIV risk factors compared to their respective counterparts. Moreover, unmarried women (AOR = 111.17, 95% CI 87.55–141.18) and those working (AOR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.14–1.67) also had higher odds of having HIV risk factors, compared to their respective counterparts. Sex of household head and parity were also significant associates. Conclusions More than a third of women in Sierra Leone had encountered at least one HIV risk factor, and this was associated with age, place of residence, region, marital status, working status, household head and parity. There is a need for strengthening HIV/AIDS education programs, laws and policies targeting the young, working, unmarried and urban-resident women.

Utilisation of modern contraceptives by sexually active adolescent girls in Rwanda: a nationwide cross-sectional study

“…Author details 1 Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. 2 Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China. 3 Programmes Department, GOAL, Khartoum, Sudan.…”

“…The use of modern contraceptives is essential for protecting women’s health and rights, reducing population growth, and promoting women’s empowerment and economic development [ 1 ]. Furthermore, barrier contraceptive methods like condoms are crucial for preventing sexually transmitted infections [ 1 , 2 ]. Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) have the highest unmet need for modern contraception as over 200 million women who do not want to conceive are not using a modern contraceptive method [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Rural-urban correlates of modern contraceptives utilization among adolescents in Zambia: a national cross-sectional survey

“…Despite the adverse effects of adolescent pregnancies and births, contraceptive use among adolescents in Africa is low [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]. In addition to the negative health outcomes, adolescent childbirths and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been associated with adverse socio-economic consequences such as; poverty, school dropout and subsequent lower educational attainment which affects their personal development [ 1 , 2 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Gender-based violence and associated factors among private college female students in Dessie City, Ethiopia: mixed method study

“…Psychological/emotional abuse includes scaring her, taking her children away from her, harassing her, controlling her behavior and where she spends her money, isolating her from family/friends, and threatening to harm those important to her people. Verbal abuse, such as verbal abuse, use of other words to lower self-esteem, and humiliation in front of others [ 3 , 4 ]. Sexual abuse, such as forcing them to engage in unwanted sexual activity, becoming pregnant or having an abortion, and exposing them to sexually transmitted diseases.…”