Factors influencing knowledge about HIV/AIDS among household heads in Ankole sub-region in Western Uganda
Abstract
This study presents the findings of the factors influencing knowledge about HIV/AIDs among
household heads in Ankole sub region in western Uganda. The findings will assist the World
Health organization, Government of Uganda, Ministry of Health, and stake holders to better
understand the factors that influence knowledge about HIV/AIDs among household heads in
Ankole sub region, how they can increase awareness about HIV/AIDs among individuals in
Ankole sub-region and how they can reduce prevalence of HIV/AIDs among individuals in
Ankole sub-region, Uganda and the world at large.
The main objective of the study was to examine factors that influence knowledge about
HIV/AIDS among household heads in Ankole sub-region in western Uganda. The assessment
adopted secondary data from UNHS 2019/2020 about 1029 house heads were sampled from
about 10 districts, these included the following Bushenyi, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Ibanda,
Isingiro, Kiruhura, Buhweju, Mitooma, Rubirizi, Sheema. The analysis was carried out on 3
stages that’s is to say univariate, bivariate and regression. All allowed further understanding of
the factors that influence the knowledge about HIV/AIDS in Ankole sub-region
Findings from the study indicate that majority of the household head respondents had never
heard of HIV test kits, majority the household heads were males (67.54%), of which majority
of them lived in rural areas (77.65%), majority studied up to primary (65.71%), majority were
married (64.14%) and of these majority of them got into cohabitation in between the age of 15
and 25 years of age. At the bivariate, only 5 variables had a significant impact on knowledge
and use of HIV/AIDs, that is, sex of the respondent (X2 =9.1813, P-value = 0.012), district (X2
=41.2326, P-value =0.001), age at first cohabitation/marriage (Chi square 12.5108, P-value
0.035), highest level of education (Chi square 86.5200, P-value =0.000), and ever tested for
HIV (Chi square 9.5574, P-value =0.006). the rest of the variables had no significant impact
on the knowledge and use of HIV/AIDS.
Multivariate analysis, knowledge about HIV/AIDS in Ankole sub-region is highly influenced
by gender and educational attainment. Higher levels of education, especially those above the
secondary level, were linked to better knowledge of and use of test kit products. Women
demonstrated higher levels of usage and skill than did males. The study did not, however,
establish a statistically significant link between knowledge and use and the use of test kit users.
Targeted measures are necessary to improve usage and education, particularly among men, and
vi
to guarantee complete HIV prevention and testing approaches. To study additional factors
influencing knowledge and use of test kits, more research is needed.
Findings indicated that there is need for government, Ministry of Health and stake holders to
launch targeted education initiatives to raise HIV test kit knowledge and awareness, especially
among people with less formal education, create gender-specific strategies with emphasis on
removing barrier face by men to encourage understanding of and use of test kits. Further
studies can be made to establish the relationship between age at first cohabitation/marriage and
knowledge about HIV/AIDS, district of residence and knowledge about HIV/AIDs as well as
whether or not someone has ever been tested for HIV and the knowledge about HIV/AIDs.