Factors influencing HIV test among young women with disabilities in Uganda.

Abstract

Background: HIV infection continues to be a global and public health concern. Despite the significant impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other preventive strategies in the reduction of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, HIV remains the leading cause of deaths among young women with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). I examined the predictors of HIV testing among women with disabilities in Uganda. Methods: The study, based on data from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS), analyzed 129 weighted cases of women with disabilities. Frequency tables, Chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data and examine the predictors of HIV testing among women with disabilities in Uganda. The main explanatory variables included age, marital status, education, wealth index, religion, residence and total life time sexual partners and media exposure. Results: The overall prevalence of HIV testing among women with disabilities in Uganda was 56%. Marital status, level of education, and region of residence were statistically associated with HIV testing. The odds of HIV testing were higher among ever married women compared with never-married women [OR=59.92; CI: 6.14-584.69; p=0.001]. HIV testing was higher among women with secondary and above education compared to women with primary or no education [OR=3.61; CI: 1.28-10.17; p=0.016]. Likewise, among women with disabilities, women from Western region were more likely to test for HIV compared with women from Central region with odds [OR=5.48; CI: 1.57-19.16; p=0.008]. Conclusion: Improving uptake of HIV testing among women with disabilities requires addressing a wide range of health system challenges. There is a need to improve HIV knowledge and continue to address the fear of HIV positive test results and HIV related stigma. Sensitization of the women about HIV testing especially those with less primary or no education since they have less knowledge about HIV testing. The factors that influenced HIV testing were marital status, region and level of education, marital status influenced HIV testing because women that are married are sexually active and therefore they opt for HIV testing as a couple, then level of education influence HIV testing because educated women have prior knowledge and are exposed to HIV testing programs , and region also influences HIV testing, this could be because from the western are sensitized about HIV testing compared to other regions.