Socio-Economic and Demographic Determinants of HIV Status among HIV Infected Older Adults (50-64 Years) In Botswana: Evidence From 2013 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS IV)

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A stratified two-stage probability sample design was used in selecting a total of 459 Enumeration areas and 8,275 households drawn systematically for the study with the aim to describe the characteristics of the HIV infected older adults in Botswana and determine how the HIV status of the older adults is influenced by their socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Household and the individual questionnaires developed using the opinions of professionals, users of statistics, as well as experiences from the pre-test formed the instrument for the study. The results revealed that 23.2% of the older adults 50-64 years (25.5%, males and 21.5%, females) were HIV positive. An overwhelming majority of the males (88.7%) and females (83.3%) had either no education or primary education. About half of the males (50.9%) and 19% of the females were married while the majority of the females (43.9%) were never married. All the socio-economic and demographic variables significantly (p<0.01) predicted the probability of an older adult being HIV positive. The older adults with secondary education and higher education were respectively, 65.5 times and 1.8 times more likely to be HIV positive. Type of locality had significant impact in the determination of HIV status of the older adults. There are significant association between the socio-economic, demographic variables and the risk behaviours (use of condom and adherence to ARV treatment). Education, focusing on prevention and education initiatives for HIV and AIDS, including peer education, media awareness campaigns, group workshops, publications for mass consumption, individual and couple counselling is very much desired and should be provided to the older adults.