Knowledge about HIV/AIDS among women in Bangladesh: an urban-rural comparison of trend, attitude and determinants

Abstract

Objective: This study is aimed to observe the knowledge trend regarding HIV/AIDS and to identify the associated factors of the HIV/AIDS knowledge among the urban and rural Bangladeshi women. Methods: The data were extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) in 2004 and 2014, collected from women aged 15-49 years from seven administrative divisions of Bangladesh. To analyse the data, Chi-square test (?2) and multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized. Results: In Bangladesh, the prevalence of the women’s HIV/AIDS knowledge in urban area was 83.1% whereas in rural area was 63.9% in 2014. The results revealed that reading newspaper/radio (urban: aOR=4.979, CI: 2.242-11.056 and rural: aOR=1.993, CI: 1.372-2.889), watching TV (urban: aOR=2.129, CI: 1.404-3.228 and rural: aOR=2.345, CI: 1.904-2.889), NGO health workers visit (urban: aOR=1.592, CI: 1.391 and rural: aOR=1.391, CI: 1.097-1.765), women’s decision-making power about health care (urban: aOR=1.486, CI: 1.055-2.093 and rural: aOR=1.393, CI: 1.161-1.672) are significantly associated with having HIV knowledge as well as respondent’s education, economic and marital status for both urban and rural area. Alongside with these factors, husband’s education, age at marriage, condom use during intercourse, community clinic awareness, govt. health worker visits and victimization of IPV are also vital predictor of having HIV knowledge in rural Bangladesh. Conclusion: In Bangladesh, it is essential to improve the educational program regarding HIV/AIDS especially for rural women. Mass media can play important roles in rising awareness about HIV/AIDS in both urban and rural areas. The Bangladesh Government and NGOs should increase the household visit by their health assistent and workers in this regard.