HIV/STI awareness and testing among young Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background: Young Rohingya women in Bangladesh are undoubtedly vulnerable to HIV/STIs, but little is known about their awareness or testing behaviours. We assessed HIV/STI awareness and identified factors associated with awareness and testing among Rohingya women aged 15–24 years. Methods: In 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in Cox’s Bazar camps, enrolling 686 Rohingya women aged 15–24 years. Data were collected via interviewer-administered structured questionnaires on HIV/STI awareness, transmission knowledge and testing history. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with HIV/STI awareness and testing. Results: Only 12.4% of participants had heard of HIV, and 9.2% of STIs. Correct knowledge of transmission routes and symptoms was limited. Testing uptake was extremely low: 2.6% had ever tested for HIV, and 2.5% for STIs. Literacy, employment outside the home and recent fieldworker visits were positively associated with awareness (AOR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.1–5.8; AOR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1–6.0; AOR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2–4.7). Awareness, in turn, was strongly associated with having ever been tested (AOR 24.8, 95% CI: 7.7–79.5). Conclusion: We uncovered alarmingly low levels of HIV/STI awareness and testing among young Rohingya refugee women, which were associated with important social and structural barriers. Our findings underscore the need for context-specific strategies to expand HIV/STI knowledge, and access to and uptake of HIV/STI testing.