an Eldis Resource
Determinants of knowledge of HIV status in South Africa: results from a population-based HIV survey
Access to HIV counselling and testing must be improved in rural South Africa
Authors:
Karl Peltzer; Gladys Matseke; Thembile Mzolo
Publisher:
BioMed Central, 2009
With over 30% of women and men in the South Africa's 2005 national HIV household survey indicating that they had previously been tested for HIV (of which 91% were aware of their test results), this paper published by BioMed Central 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.
From a representative sample of 16,395 male and female respondents, the authors find that 27.6% ever and 7.8% knew their HIV status in the past 12 months. Using multivariate analyses, the authors find that 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, the authors find that awareness of a place nearby where one could be tested for HIV and impact of HIV on the household were associated with knowledge of HIV status. On the other hand, the authors find 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 among HIV negative persons HIV.
The authors conclude that education 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.
[adapted from author]
