Assessment of Factors Associated With Acquiring HIV among VCT Seeking Married Women at Health Institutions in Addis Ababa
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Date
2007-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Back ground: About forty million people live with HIV/AIDS world wide. The proportion of
females infected by HIV is increasing from time to time. Nearly 50% of the 40 million people
living with HIV/AIDS are female. Rates of HIV infection among married women or those in
committed partnerships are increasing rapidly. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where women have
been hardest hit by the AIDS pandemic, 57% of those who test positive are women and at
least one third of these women are married. Biological susceptibility, economic dependence,
cultural factor, violence, early marriage, harmful traditional practices, gender inequality, lack
of knowledge, high risk sexual behavior of their partner and absence of female controlled
prevention methods are some of the factors that make women more vulnerable to HIV.
Objective: The objective of the study was to identify factors that are associated with
acquiring HIV among married women.
Methods: The study design was a Cross Sectional Survey with internal comparison using
structured questionnaire .The study subjects were married women who came to VCT centers.
Socio demographic variables, risk perception, marital situation, condom use, decision making
power and violence were used to assess the vulnerability of married women to HIV.
Proportion, Chi square, Odds ratio and logistic regression were used for analyzing risk factors
against HIV status as appropriate.
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Results: The study composed 602 married women of whom 38% were in the age group of 20-
24 years. The most common ethnic group was Amhara comprising 55.1%. Ninety two percent
were Christian by religion. Majority of the respondents attended secondary and above
education. About fifty eight percent were housewives and 34% of the respondents had a
monthly income of 201-599.
According to this study one of five married women was HIV positive (24.9%). Low husband
income, work place of the husband out of Addis Ababa, perceived risk factor as husbands’
extramarital sexual relationship were highly associated with HIV positivity. Having
premarital test and discussion of sexuality among couples were found to be protective of HIV.
Conclusion: Low husbands’ income, husbands’ work place out of Addis, no premarital test,
perceived risk to HIV and no discussion of sexuality between couples are highly associated
with being HIV positive.
Recommendation: Based on the study findings empowering married women through
improving educational and economic status, increasing awareness and negotiating skills on
safer sexual practices, encouraging discussion about sexuality among couples, targeting
education for married men on safer sexual practices, working with the communities to change
the attitude towards men’s extramarital sexual relationship and introduction of female condom
are recommended
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HIV among VCT