A study of awareness on HIV/AIDS among adolescents: A Longitudinal Study on UDAYA data

Endorsement of HIV-related stigma among men in Ghana: What are the determinants?

INTRODUCTION

Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV) remain a major barrier to effective HIV prevention. Despite the understanding that the creation of a socially inclusive environment for PLHIV is crucial for the promotion of testing, status disclosure, and treatment uptake, HIV stigma persists. Additionally, evidence suggests the endorsement of HIV stigma may be gender specific. Nonetheless, very little is known about the factors influencing men's discrimination against PLHIV in the Ghanaian context. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, our study fills this void by exploring the factors associated with the endorsement of HIV stigma in Ghana.

METHODS

Utilizing a nationally representative data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (N = 7044 men with ages ranging from 15-49 years), and applying logistic regression models, this study examined the factors associated with the endorsement of HIV-related stigma in Ghana.

RESULTS

The notion that HIV can be transmitted through the sharing of food with PLHIV was significantly associated with increased odds of stigma endorsement against children with HIV (OR = 3.381; P<0.001) and vendors with HIV (OR = 3.00; P<0.001). On the contrary, knowing that a healthy-looking person can have HIV was significantly associated with decreased odds of endorsement of stigma against children living with HIV (OR = 0.505; P<0.001), and vendors living with HIV (OR = 0.573; P<0.001). Likewise, having knowledge of drugs that help PLHIV to live longer, was significantly associated with decreased odds of stigma endorsement against children living with HIV (OR = 0.768; P<0.001), and vendors living with HIV (OR = 0.719; P<0.001). Moreover, participants with higher educational attainment reported lower odds of stigma endorsement against children living with HIV (OR = 0.255; P<0.01), and vendors living with HIV (OR = 0.327; P<0.01). Furthermore, age was significant and inversely associated with the endorsement of HIV stigma against children living with HIV (OR = 0.951; P<0.05), and vendors living with HIV (OR = 0.961; P<0.05). Also, wealth, ethnicity, and the region of residence significantly predicted endorsement of HIV stigma.

CONCLUSION

For Ghana to achieve UNAIDS target 95-95-95 by 2030, targeted educational campaigns are necessary to dispel misconceptions about HIV and to promote social inclusion for reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the country.

Knowledge and Attitudes About HIV/AIDS Among Adolescent Students in 15-19 Years Age Group Based on the Adolescent Education Programme: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Kamrup (Metro), Assam

INTRODUCTION

There has been a rising trend in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases globally as well as regionally. To combat the rising cases, it is very crucial to understand the perception of knowledge and attitude among the adolescent age group, as they constitute a majority of the population in India. The adolescent age group is quite vulnerable; hence, special attention has to be given to this particular age group to prevent them from acquiring high-risk behaviours. The Government of India initiated the Adolescent Education Programme to help adolescents cultivate a positive attitude and learn life skills to live a better and dignified life. Educational institutions have a significant role in imparting effective sex education to adolescents. This programme focuses on making the students aware of the dangers, stigma, and discrimination associated with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as well as modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS, helping them to acquire the necessary life skills to enable them to avoid risky situations and to develop healthy and responsible behaviour. The study aims to assess the knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among adolescent students aged 15-19 years and help them achieve a healthy attitude and responsible behaviour towards HIV/AIDS.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the educational institutions of Kamrup (Metro), Assam, catering to the adolescent age group of 15-19 years for two months, beginning on March 15, 2024, and ending on May 15, 2024. Simple random sampling was done to select seven schools, and students were selected via systematic random sampling. The knowledge and attitude about HIV were assessed using a self-designed questionnaire that was pilot-tested; Cronbach's alpha was used to check the internal consistency of the questionnaire; and content validation was done by a group of four experts on the subject matter. The survey questionnaire was administered to the participants in their classrooms after obtaining prior permission from the school authorities. Fisher's exact test and Chi-square tests were done to test the associations, taking a p-value <0.05 as statistically significant. A binary logistic regression model was put up to show the influence of certain socio-demographic variables on knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS, taking a p-value <0.05 as statistically significant. A two-factor analysis of variance with measurement repetition was also performed.

RESULTS

The majority, 165 (52.5%) of the participants, had good knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS. The socio-demographic variables such as age, institution, grade, and religion were significantly associated with knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS (p-value <0.05). Regarding sources of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, the majority, 178 (56.7%) of the participants, mentioned it being taught in school or college as a part of the curriculum.

CONCLUSION

It is critical to address the current lack of information and unfavourable attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS among adolescents through school-based health programmes. This should be accomplished through proactive campaigns by educators, community leaders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other groups in partnership with the government.

Determinants of HIV/Aids Knowledge Among Females in Somalia: Findings from 2018 to 2019 SDHS Data

Background

Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has become a serious global public health concern, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Even though the fact that just a few case studies have addressed on the HIV/AIDS in the context of Somalia, to the best of our knowledge, no national-scale study on the topic has been attempted. Limited knowledge of HIV/AIDS is highlighted as one of the major factors linked to the high prevalence of HIV among female population. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap in the literature by investigating the effects of several sociodemographic factors on females' knowledge about HIV/AIDS in Somalia.

Methods

Secondary data from the Somalia Demographic Health Survey 2018-19 were used in this study. A total of 16,335 women between the ages of 15 and 49 who fit our inclusion criteria have been chosen. The application of multiple logistic regressions was then performed to see if the predictors had a significant association with knowledge of HIV/AIDS.

Findings

Women aged 35-39 (AOR = 1.608; 95% CI: 1.372-1.886), women lived in urban (AOR: 2.833, 95% CI: 2.246-3.572), Women's education (AOR: 2.246, 95% CI: 1.988-2.537), frequency of listening to a radio (AOR = 2.312; 95% CI: 1.995-2.679), and frequency of watching television (AOR = 3.936; 95% CI: 3.445-4.497) were significantly related with current knowledge about HIV/AIDS among eligible women in Somalia.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of mass media (TV and radio) interventions, education, and place of habitation as the main significant predictors of women's knowledge of HIV/AIDS in Somalia. Based on the study, women are more likely to be aware of HIV/AIDS as their education level, frequency of listening a radio and watching a television watching rises. The research additionally indicates that women who reside in urban centers are nearly three times more likely than women who live in nomadic areas to know more about HIV/AIDS.

Perception Towards Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Among Women of Reproductive Age: Analysis of Nationwide Surveys in India

INTRODUCTION

The knowledge of HIV prevention, attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLHIV), and beliefs in myths related to HIV/AIDS among women of reproductive age group in India hold immense importance. As this group is particularly vulnerable to HIV infection, having accurate knowledge about prevention methods is crucial to protect themselves and their partners. Positive attitudes towards PLHIV foster support, reduce stigma and encourage early testing and treatment. Additionally, debunking myths and misconceptions surrounding HIV/AIDS can help dispel fear and promote informed decision-making. Empowering women with comprehensive knowledge, fostering positive attitudes, and debunking myths can contribute to effective HIV prevention strategies, reduce transmission rates, and improve women's overall well-being in India.

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to create a regression model to show disparities in knowledge of the prevention of HIV/AIDS, attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS, and belief in myths among women in India with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for different socio-demographic factors, and to determine if there are any significant changes in the aOR during both surveys.

STUDY DESIGN

A comparative study using secondary data analysis of two complex sample surveys.

METHODS

Individual Recode files from datasets obtained from Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) Program were exported to STATA v17.0 MP by STATA Corp LLC. Dependent and independent variables were chosen based on a literature review and computed. The design-adjusted chi-square test was used to assess the association between variables. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to derive a model. The model assessment was performed using the Wald test after estimation.

RESULTS

The age group of 15-19 years had the highest odds of having sufficient knowledge of the prevention of HIV/AIDS during both National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) (aOR: 1.98 during NFHS-4 and aOR: 1.80 during NFHS-5). No education group had the highest odds of negative attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS during both surveys (aOR: 4.85 during NFHS-4 and aOR: 2.69 during NFHS-5). Rural areas had higher odds of believing in myths related to HIV/AIDS during both surveys (aOR: 1.07 during NFHS-4 and aOR: 1.13 during NFHS-5).

CONCLUSIONS

This research study sheds light on the significant relationship between demographic factors and knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to HIV/AIDS among women. Specifically, women in the lower age group, lacking education, and residing in rural areas exhibited substantial levels of inadequate knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS prevention. Furthermore, this group was also associated with higher proportions of negative attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and a greater tendency to believe in myths associated with HIV/AIDS.

Knowledge, beliefs and practices towards HIV/AIDS among adolescents in India: A scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a major health concern among Indian adolescents (10-19 years). Indian adolescents lack adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS and adopt wrong practices. The present scoping review aims to understand the status of knowledge, beliefs and practices among Indian adolescents about HIV or HIV/AIDS. The present study will also focus on their understanding and the source of knowledge and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS.

METHODOLOGY

The recommendations of Arksey and O'Malley in 2005, Levac et al. in 2010 and The Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' manual in 2015 to conduct a systematic scoping review will be employed. The review questions, eligibility criteria and search strategy for this study will be ensured by the Population, Concept and Context (PCC) strategy. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will be used for reporting of this scoping review. The methodological quality of all the relevant studies will be assessed by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), Version- 2018. Literature search will be carried out by using electronic databases such as PubMed, APA PsycInfo, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Cross-references will be used to extract additional studies.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

As the planned study is based on secondary data and doesn't involve human and animal subjects, there is no requirement for formal ethical approval.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The planned scoping review is the first of such study on the topic of HIV/AIDS among adolescent population in India as per the electronically available literature.There will be quality assessment of all the included studies.A thorough search strategy will be conducted as per the recommendations of the experts in scoping review search.On limitation side, the planned study will only utilize electronically available resources/evidences that are written in English language.The planned evidence based study will be of much help for the healthcare professionals and policy makers.

Study on HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and preventive services among young students in Chongqing, China

Objectives

This study aimed to describe the HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviors of young students (14-25 years) in Chongqing, China, and to examine their use of preventive services and related factors.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted with students from 67 schools from December 2019 to June 2021. The chi-square test, non-parametric test to assess the differences between respondents with different characteristics in the above aspects. Additionally, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with the awareness of HIV/AIDS knowledge. Confidence intervals without crossover or P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 31,782 participants were included in the study. A total of 62.62% of the respondents were considered to be aware of basic HIV/AIDS knowledge, including 78.44%, 62.15%, and 52.08% in undergraduate colleges, junior colleges and secondary vocational schools, respectively. In total, 60.96% of males and 29.42% of females accepted premarital sex, 15.49% of males and 6.18% of females reported being sexually experienced, and only 57.18% of the students used condoms every time they had sex. The percentage of condom use among students who were aware of HIV/AIDS knowledge was higher than that among students who were not aware. A total of 85.60% of the students thought they needed HIV/AIDS prevention and control knowledge, and 94.60% thought more health education activities on HIV/AIDS prevention needed to be conducted in schools. Entrance education, lectures or consultation hotlines, WeChat official accounts and other media platforms were rated as the most acceptable HIV/AIDS prevention education methods.

Conclusion

These respondents lacked knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and an increasing number of students show an open attitude toward premarital sex and engage in risky sexual behaviors. It is urgent to enhance and widely disseminate comprehensive HIV/AIDS and sexual health education in multiple formats.

Association between exposure to social media and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health among adolescent girls: evidence from the UDAYA survey in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India

Background

Poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes amongst adolescent girls in India have been associated with inadequate knowledge of SRH. Evidence suggests that social media can promote health-seeking behaviors. Our objective in this study was to determine the association between exposure to social media and SRH knowledge among adolescent girls in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 10,425 adolescent girls from the UDAYA survey (wave-2, 2018–19). Girls’ exposure to social media was the key predictor, and SRH knowledge of sexual intercourse and pregnancy, contraceptive methods, and HIV/AIDS were outcomes of interest. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between exposure to social media and knowledge of SRH among adolescent girls.

Results

Of the study participants (n = 10,425), 28.0% (n = 3,160) had exposure to social media. Overall, 8.7%, 11.4%, and 6.6% of respondents had sufficient knowledge of sexual intercourse and pregnancy, contraceptive methods, and HIV/AIDS, respectively. Exposure to social media was associated with increased odds of knowledge of sexual intercourse and pregnancy (Odds ratio [OR]: 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18, 1.61), contraceptive methods (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.27, 1.67), and HIV/AIDS (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.84, 2.58).

Conclusions

Our study shows the potency of exposure to social media in influencing SRH knowledge, which exclusively benefits female adolescents who are educated, residing in urban areas, and from wealthier families. Digital media-focused interventions inclusive of socio-cultural contexts (e.g., strategic investment in education and creating economic opportunities) are crucial to optimize social media's impact on SRH knowledge enhancements.

A substantial body of research shows that adolescent girls in India lack adequate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge. Evidently, this puts them at several health risks associated with early pregnancies, preventable gynecological morbidities such as irregular menstrual patterns, and urethral discharge, among several others. Perpetuated social stigma and lack of agency impede adolescents especially from marginalized communities from accessing accurate, sufficient, and timely SRH information from their immediate household members and healthcare providers at local service points. This adversely affects their health-seeking behaviors and ultimately results in avertable poor reproductive health outcomes. A growing body of literature highlights social media platforms (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) as preferred modalities to gain SRH information among adolescents. Against this backdrop, we assessed the intricate association between social media exposure and SRH knowledge (across three dimensions: sexual intercourse and pregnancy, contraceptive methods, and HIV/AIDS) among adolescent girls in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India. We tested for association between several socio-demographic factors and SRH knowledge. Findings indicate that adolescents who were exposed to social media platforms were likely to have more SRH knowledge compared to those who were not. Socio-demographic factors like place of residence, for example residing in urban areas, higher levels of education and high wealth index acted as facilitators of social media exposure as well as SRH knowledge.