Determinants of Comprehensive Knowledge OF HIV/AIDS among Females Aged 15-24 Years in Ethiopia

Introduction: Young females are three to six times more likely to have the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) compared with males of the same age in Sub-saharan Africa. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS is important in the adoption of behavior that reduces the risk for HIV transmission. Although Ethiopia is implementing different programs to reduce HIV/AIDS, there has been no change in the comprehensive knowledge of young females from 2011 to 2016. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the determinants of comprehensive knowledge of  HIV/AIDS among females aged 15-24 years in Ethiopia.

Methods: The 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data was used. Among the interviewed women, 5929 young women aged 15-24 years were considered in this investigation. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe the outcome variable and the characteristics of participants. Bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its respective 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported to show the strength and significance of associations.

Results: In this study, higher odds of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS were observed among the youth who had media exposure (AOR=1.28; 95% CI:1.10, 1.49), higher education (AOR=4.44;95% CI: 3.20, 6.16), and higher economic status (AOR=1.92; 95% CI: 1.42, 2.60). However, Muslims (AOR=0.68; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.78) and Protestants (AOR=0.86; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.99) were less likely to have comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS as compared to Orthodox Christians.

Conclusion: Media exposure, education, economic status and religion were factors associated with comprehensive knowledge. Strengthened strategic behavior change communication intervention for young females is needed, specifically for the uneducated, the poor and Muslims.