Correlates of unawareness of HIV status and recency of HIV infections among women living with HIV: findings from population-based surveys in 13 African countries.

BACKGROUND

Despite efforts to increase HIV testing availability, a substantial number of women living with HIV (WLHIV) remain unaware that they have HIV. We explored the demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics associated with being unaware of HIV status among WLHIV.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of data from 13 population-based HIV impact assessment surveys. We used weighted χ analysis and log-binomial regression to identify associations between awareness of living with HIV and various factors.

RESULTS

Among 27 983 WLHIV, 7459 (26.6%) were unaware that they were living with HIV. Women at the extremes of age; 15-24 years (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 1.84; 95% CI 1.67 to 2.03, p value <0.01), those >60 years; and those living in rural areas (aPR: 1. 09; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.18, p value 0.02) were more likely to be unaware of that they were living with HIV. Of the 7459 women who were unaware that they were living with HIV, 7071 (94.8%) had long-term HIV infection. Factors associated with long-term HIV infection included: older age 35-44 years (aPR: 1.03; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.08, p value <0.01), 45-59 years (aPR: 1.05; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.09, p value 0.02) and having no sexual partner in the past 12 months (aPR: 1.04; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.09, p value 0.04).

CONCLUSION

A high proportion of women who were unaware that they were living with HIV had long-term HIV infections. HIV testing interventions should be targeted towards these women to improve early access to HIV treatment.