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.