Trends in HIV-related knowledge, behaviors and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent women aged 15–24 in Nigeria

Abstract Background HIV remains one of the major global public health challenges, having claimed over 36 million lives so far, especially in sub-Saharan African countries like Nigeria. This study aimed to look into the trends in HIV-related knowledge, behavior and testing among young women in Nigeri...

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Main Authors: Okoro Lenz Nwachinemere, Simon Nyegenye, Aaron Mwesigwa, Naya Gadzama Bulus, Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami, Kaweesi Abdulrahim Mukisa, Isaac Isiko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Tropical Medicine and Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00737-1
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author Okoro Lenz Nwachinemere
Simon Nyegenye
Aaron Mwesigwa
Naya Gadzama Bulus
Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami
Kaweesi Abdulrahim Mukisa
Isaac Isiko
author_facet Okoro Lenz Nwachinemere
Simon Nyegenye
Aaron Mwesigwa
Naya Gadzama Bulus
Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami
Kaweesi Abdulrahim Mukisa
Isaac Isiko
author_sort Okoro Lenz Nwachinemere
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background HIV remains one of the major global public health challenges, having claimed over 36 million lives so far, especially in sub-Saharan African countries like Nigeria. This study aimed to look into the trends in HIV-related knowledge, behavior and testing among young women in Nigeria. Methods This study used data extracted from women aged 15–24 years who indicated that they had undergone HIV testing from the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) for 2007, 2011, and 2016. Across these surveys, similar sampling designs were applied, using a two-stage cluster sampling to generate a nationally representative sample of households. In the first stage, clusters were selected using the most recent available census from sampling frames. In the second stage, households were selected from each cluster. There was stratification of urban and rural for the different sampled clusters. The analysis was performed using STATA 17 software. Results Northwest and South-South geopolitical zones, rural residential status and good knowledge about HIV were significantly associated with HIV testing. From 2011 to 2016, young women with primary education were significantly associated with reduced odds of HIV testing compared to those with at least secondary education. Young women with good behavior towards HIV prevention were significantly associated with higher odds of HIV testing, ranging from 1.7 times higher in 2011 to 1.8 times higher in 2016 compared with young women with poor behavior. Conclusion By prioritizing education, integrating HIV education and testing into school-based programs, and increasing access to healthcare services in rural areas, we can empower adolescents to make informed decisions about their health and reduce the spread of HIV.
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spelling doaj-art-6939ee05a8e946a28fbde7ead1952c452025-08-20T02:06:35ZengBMCTropical Medicine and Health1349-41472025-06-0153111010.1186/s41182-025-00737-1Trends in HIV-related knowledge, behaviors and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent women aged 15–24 in NigeriaOkoro Lenz Nwachinemere0Simon Nyegenye1Aaron Mwesigwa2Naya Gadzama Bulus3Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami4Kaweesi Abdulrahim Mukisa5Isaac Isiko6Department of Community Medicine, David Umahi Federal University Teaching HospitalDepartment of Statistics and Applied Planning, School of Statistics and Planning, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marwadi UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa UniversityGlobal Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical MedicineDepartment of Biomolecular Resources and Biolab Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere UniversitySchool of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityAbstract Background HIV remains one of the major global public health challenges, having claimed over 36 million lives so far, especially in sub-Saharan African countries like Nigeria. This study aimed to look into the trends in HIV-related knowledge, behavior and testing among young women in Nigeria. Methods This study used data extracted from women aged 15–24 years who indicated that they had undergone HIV testing from the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) for 2007, 2011, and 2016. Across these surveys, similar sampling designs were applied, using a two-stage cluster sampling to generate a nationally representative sample of households. In the first stage, clusters were selected using the most recent available census from sampling frames. In the second stage, households were selected from each cluster. There was stratification of urban and rural for the different sampled clusters. The analysis was performed using STATA 17 software. Results Northwest and South-South geopolitical zones, rural residential status and good knowledge about HIV were significantly associated with HIV testing. From 2011 to 2016, young women with primary education were significantly associated with reduced odds of HIV testing compared to those with at least secondary education. Young women with good behavior towards HIV prevention were significantly associated with higher odds of HIV testing, ranging from 1.7 times higher in 2011 to 1.8 times higher in 2016 compared with young women with poor behavior. Conclusion By prioritizing education, integrating HIV education and testing into school-based programs, and increasing access to healthcare services in rural areas, we can empower adolescents to make informed decisions about their health and reduce the spread of HIV.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00737-1HIVHIV knowledgeHIV testingYoung womenHIV trend analysisHIV in Nigeria
spellingShingle Okoro Lenz Nwachinemere
Simon Nyegenye
Aaron Mwesigwa
Naya Gadzama Bulus
Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami
Kaweesi Abdulrahim Mukisa
Isaac Isiko
Trends in HIV-related knowledge, behaviors and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent women aged 15–24 in Nigeria
Tropical Medicine and Health
HIV
HIV knowledge
HIV testing
Young women
HIV trend analysis
HIV in Nigeria
title Trends in HIV-related knowledge, behaviors and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent women aged 15–24 in Nigeria
title_full Trends in HIV-related knowledge, behaviors and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent women aged 15–24 in Nigeria
title_fullStr Trends in HIV-related knowledge, behaviors and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent women aged 15–24 in Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Trends in HIV-related knowledge, behaviors and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent women aged 15–24 in Nigeria
title_short Trends in HIV-related knowledge, behaviors and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent women aged 15–24 in Nigeria
title_sort trends in hiv related knowledge behaviors and determinants of hiv testing among adolescent women aged 15 24 in nigeria
topic HIV
HIV knowledge
HIV testing
Young women
HIV trend analysis
HIV in Nigeria
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00737-1
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