Abstract
BackgroundOver 30% of women and men in the South African national HIV household of 2005 indicated that they had previously been tested for HIV (of which 91% were aware of their test results). This paper seeks to describe the associations between socio-demographic, behavioural and social characteristics and knowledge of HIV status among a nationally representative population in South Africa.MethodsA multistage probability sample involving 16395 male and female respondents, aged 15 years or older was selected. The sample was representative of the South African population by age, race, province and type of living area, e.g. urban formal, urban informal, etc. Respondents were interviewed on HIV knowledge, perceptions and behaviour and provided blood for research HIV testing. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify socio-demographic, social and behavioural factors associated with knowledge of HIV status.ResultsFrom the total sample 27.6% ever and 7.8% knew their HIV status in the past 12 months. In multivariate analyses being female, the age group 25 to 34 years old, other than African Black population group (White, Coloured, Asian), higher educational level, being employed, urban residence, awareness of a place nearby where one could be tested for HIV, impact of HIV on the household and having had two of more sexual partners in the past year were associated with knowledge of HIV status. Among HIV positive persons awareness of a place nearby where one could be tested for HIV and impact of HIV on the household were associated knowledge of HIV status, and among HIV negative persons HIV risk behaviour (multiple partners, no condom use), awareness of a place nearby where one could be tested for HIV, higher knowledge score on HIV and knowledge of serodiscordance were associated knowledge of HIV status.ConclusionEducation about HIV/AIDS and access to HIV counselling and testing (HCT) in rural areas, in particular among the Black African population group needs to be improved, in order to enhance the uptake of HIV counselling and testing services, an essential step for the initiation of treatment.
Highlights
Over 30% of women and men in the South African national HIV household of 2005 indicated that they had previously been tested for HIV
In bivariate analyses being female, the age group 25 to 34 years old, being married or cohabitating, Grade 12 and more formal education, other than African Black population group (White, Coloured, Asian), being employed, urban residence, awareness of a place nearby where one could be tested for HIV, higher knowledge score on HIV, knowledge of serodiscordance, impact of HIV on the household, high HIV risk perception, being HIV positive, one, two or more sexual partners in the past year and non-condom use at last sex were associated with knowledge of HIV status
In multivariate analyses being female, the age group 25 to 34 years old, other than African Black population group (White, Coloured, Asian), higher educational level, being employed, urban residence, awareness of a place nearby where one could be tested for HIV, impact of HIV on the household and two or more sexual partners in the past year were associated with knowledge of HIV status, and marital status, HIV knowledge, knowledge of serodiscordance, HIV risk perception, HIV status and no condom at last sex were no longer associated with knowledge of HIV status
Summary
Over 30% of women and men in the South African national HIV household of 2005 indicated that they had previously been tested for HIV (of which 91% were aware of their test results). This paper seeks to describe the associations between socio-demographic, behavioural and social characteristics and knowledge of HIV status among a nationally representative population in South Africa. HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) is an entry point to both prevention and treatment. People have to know their HIV sero-status to enable them to seek appropriate treatment as well as enable them to choose prevention strategies. It has become increasingly important in the global response to HIV/AIDS. Most South Africans are aware that HCT services are available, only one in five people in South Africa who know about HCT have been tested for HIV [1]. Among countries in Southern Africa the percentage who took an HIV test in the last 12 months and who know their results ranges between 2% in Mozambique to 20% in Botswana [3], and in the US 10.4% [4]
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