Socio-ecological predictors of HIV testing in women of childbearing age in Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: HIV remains a public health problem in Nigeria. Women within the age of 15 to 49 years, the childbearing age, have a prevalence rate of 1.9%, higher than that of their male counterparts of the same age group. Women can transmit HIV to their partners and their children. Nigeria accounts for 30% of global transmission of HIV from mother to child. Therefore, the study seeks to identify the socioecological predictors of HIV testing because HIV testing is the gateway to HIV prevention to achieve the sustainable development goal of zero new infections by the year 2030.

Methods: the study was a cross-sectional study, analyzing the 2013 Nigeria demographic and health survey data using SPSS V27.

Results: the result of the study indicated a higher odds ratio for good comprehensive knowledge of HIV (p<0.001, OR=3.81), good attitude to HIV (p<0.001, OR=2.50), and high perceived risk of HIV (p<0.001, OR=2.03). A low odds ratio was observed for good cultural belief despite the significance of the association (p<0.001, OR=0.83).

Conclusion: socio-ecological factors of HIV knowledge, attitude to HIV, perceived risk, and cultural belief were significant predictors of HIV testing in women of childbearing age. Programs targeted at women aged 15-19 years will enhance HIV testing as the gateway to HIV prevention and achieve the 95-95-95 target and zero new infections by 2030.