HIV Testing among Women in Namibia: Patterns and Determinants
Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2017, Vol 1, Issue 3
Abstract
HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) remains an important entry to HIV Prevention, treatment, care and support services. HIV Testing Services (HTS) associated guidelines indicate that there are still significant gaps remaining in reaching undiagnosed HIV infected people and effectively linking them to treatment, care and support services with efficient use of limited available resources in Namibia. The objective of this study was to establish patterns and determinants of HIV testing, among women and to propose strategies to increase HIV testing among women. Secondary data from the Namibia Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) was used to compute descriptive statistics and to fit a logistic regression to establish the determinants of HIV testing. Results indicated that younger women (p<0.001), except for those aged 15-19 years of age, those from Kavango (p=0.014), Kunene (p=0.013), Ohangwena (p=0.002), Omaheke (p<0.001) and Oshana (p=0.007) regions and those who reside in urban areas (p=0.001) were more likely to go for an HIV testing. Women with lower educational attainment (p<0.001) were less likely to go for HIV testing. HIV testing was also influenced by the number of sexual partners, culture, socio-economic status, and marital status. Intervention programs to increase the uptake of HIV testing should also target older women, rural areas and those with lower educational attainment.Namibia is one of the countries with the highest HIV prevalence in Africa and lower rate of HIV testing MOHSS [1]. HIV has a devastating impact, not just as a humanitarian catastrophe, but also as a development catastrophe, which is not merely a health issue. Namibia is classified as a high, generalized and mature prevalence country with HIV assumed to be primarily transmitted through heterosexual and mother- to- child transmission, with an estimate of over 234508 people above the age of 15 are living with HIV, representing an increase from 245351 during 2013of approximately 5.8% [2]. Knowledge of one’s HIV status is important to assist individuals who decide to adopt safer sex practices to reduce the risk of becoming infected or transmitting HIV. HIV testing empowers the uninfected person to protect himself or herself from becoming infected with HIV; assist infected persons to protect others and to live positively and offers the opportunity for treatment of HIV and of infections associated with HIV. HIV supports safer relationships which enhances faithfulness; encourages family planning and treatment to help prevent mother Namibia is one of the countries with the highest HIV prevalence in Africa and lower rate of HIV testing MOHSS [1]. HIV has a devastating impact, not just as a humanitarian catastrophe, but also as a development catastrophe, which is not merely a health issue. Namibia is classified as a high, generalized and mature prevalence country with HIV assumed to be primarily transmitted through heterosexual and mother- to- child transmission, with an estimate of over 234508 people above the age of 15 are living with HIV, representing an increase from 245351 during 2013of approximately 5.8% [2].
Authors and Affiliations
Muhinda JC, Pazvakawambwa L
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP569539
- DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000248
- Views 168
- Downloads 0
Factors Influencing the Status of the Surgical Margin in the Resection of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Aim: Surgical margin status in the resection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a significant prognostic indicator of recurrence and long term outcome. We sought to investigate the factors (patient, tumour and sur...
Vitiligo Definition Classification Treatment and Prognosis A Personal Opinion
Vitiligo has no respect for race, socioeconomic status or age. The following are celebrities who have or have had Vitiligo. Michael Jackson, Lee Thomas Americo Garcia Holly Marie Combs, Winnie Harlow, Rasheed Wallace, Ta...
Creating Energy Field
Dear reader, do you like the idea that everything around us is alive? And if we look at the world like that, whether it will become more understandable and more enjoyable for life, and we will not feel at times so lonely...
Themes and Findings of Recent Research Using Army STARRS Data
United States military service members and veterans are a group at high risk for suicide. The idea that service members survive the battlefield to return home and commit suicide stings of depressive irony but studies sho...
The “Master Code of Biology”: New Biomathematical Tracks in Alzheimer Disease
Fundamental research not yet published enables us to unify, overall, the genomics and proteomics information of any genetic sequence. This fundamental law is based on a bio-mathematics unification of all genetic informat...