Comprehensive HIV/Aids knowledge and safer sex negotiation among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID21342846
AuthorsJames Boadu Frimpong (0000-0002-9416-1176, University of Cape Coast, corresponding author), Eugene Budu (0000-0002-8484-9225, University of Cape Coast), Collins Adu (0000-0002-1300-6327, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), Aliu Mohammed (0000-0003-3109-8218, University of Cape Coast), Justice Kanor Tetteh (0000-0001-7890-1165, University of Cape Coast), Abdul-Aziz Seidu (0000-0001-9734-9054, University of Cape Coast), Bright Opoku Ahinkorah (0000-0001-7415-895X, University of Technology Sydney)
Year2022
Volume54
Issue6
Pages991-1003
Publication date2022-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Biosocial Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9320 • E-ISSN: 1469-7599
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0021932021000493
PMID34558397
OpenAlexW3200217966
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited35

Globally, HIV/AIDS remains a public health issue, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the increased advocacy and dissemination of comprehensive HIV/AIDS information in SSA, it appears that little progress has been made to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the sub-region. This study, therefore, examined the association between comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and safer sex negotiation among adolescent girls and young women in SSA. Data were taken from the Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2010 and 2019 in 30 countries in SSA. The study sample comprised 37,364 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was done to test the hypothesis that there is a positive association between comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and safer sex negotiation. Adolescent girls and young women who had comprehensive knowledge on HIV/AIDS were more likely to negotiate for safer sex compared with those who had no comprehensive knowledge on HIV/AIDS (AOR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.22–1.41). At the country level, the positive association between comprehensive knowledge on HIV/AIDS and safer sex negotiation was significant in Chad, Congo DR, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Ethiopia and Malawi. On the other hand, in Togo, adolescent girls and young women who had comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge were less likely to negotiate for safer sex. These findings can inform policies and programmes on the crucial role of comprehensive HIV/AIDS education and knowledge in increasing safer sex negotiation among adolescent girls and young women in SSA. The study recommends that Togo needs to address certain practices such as intimate partner violence against adolescent girls and young women, which prevent them from negotiating for safer sex, despite their higher knowledge on comprehensive HIV/AIDS. Lessons can be learnt from Chad, Congo DR, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Ethiopia and Malawi about the scale-up of programmes and interventions targeted at young women

Developing country · Economic growth · Environmental health · Population · Public health · SAFER · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Sex work and related issues