Educational Level and HIV Testing Among Women in Ghana

Abstract

Background: HIV testing and counselling are among the key ways for the prevention and management of HIV in Ghana. This is because people who test negative for the HIV antibodies receive education and information on ways to remain negative while those who test positive are given adherence counselling in order to prepare them to live healthier lives with the aid of the antiretroviral therapy. However, utilization of HIV testing and counselling services remains low among women. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between a woman’s level of education and HIV testing in Ghana. Methodology: The study employed secondary data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. This is a nationally representative survey comprising a total number of 9,391 women within the ages of 15-49 in Ghana. Among the many aims of the survey was the need to generate current and reliable information on the educational level of women who had ever tested for HIV within their reproductive ages (15-49). Information generated includes knowledge about HIV, women who had ever tested for HIV, women’s educational level. HIV testing uptake of women in their reproductive ages. Results: Out of the 9,391 women who were surveyed, 53.5% of them had never tested for HIV throughout their lifetime. Of those who had ever tested for HIV, the highest proportion of them had secondary education (54.7%). Some of the factors that were found to be statistically significant determinants of HIV testing among women within the reproductive ages were educational level, age, insurance availability, place of residence, marital status, recent sexual activity in the past 12 months, STI treatment and availability of insurance. Conclusion: The finding that 54.7% of women surveyed had never tested for HIV is a serious public health concern. HIV sensitization activities that are geared towards increasing uptake of HIV testing services should emphasize on the benefits one derives from taking an HIV test and the fact that it is free within all public health facilities.