Investigating Determinants of Knowledge about HIV Prevention among Young in Ethiopia

Abstract

Knowledge about HIV prevention means knowing that consistent use of condoms during sexual intercourse, having one uninfected faithful partner can reduce chance of getting HIV, knowing that a healthy-looking person can have HIV, rejecting the two most common local misconceptions (HIV can be transmitted by mosquito bites and a person can become infected by sharing food with a person who has HIV). The study objective was to assess and identify determinants of comprehensive knowledge about HIV prevention among young in Ethiopia. The data used for analysis was 2016 EDHS. The dependent variable was comprehensive knowledge about HIV prevention and Descriptive statistics and Binary logistic regression used to identify determinants of comprehensive knowledge about HIV prevention among young. The study conducted on 10,520 young, of which 41.9% were male and 58.1% female. The significant determinants of comprehensive knowledge about HIV prevention among young were age, residence, education, occupation, marital status, wealth index, sex, region and media exposure. In conclusion, Young with low income, single, male without formal education were less likely to have comprehensive knowledge while the knowledge status is different from region to region. Education for low income, single and male on HIV prevention must be expanded to improve knowledge of the disease in Ethiopia.