Demographic Predictors of HIV Testing in Women of Childbearing Age in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Nigeria accounts for about one third of global mother to child transmission of HIV (MTCT). HIV testing is the entry point for the prevention of MTCT. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen HIV testing in women of childbearing age to achieve the sustainable goal of zero new infections by 2030.
Methodology: This study examined demographic factors as predictors of HIV testing in women of childbearing age using data from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Logistic regression was used to examine the predictive effects of the independent variables using IBM SPSS V27.
Results: Age, marital status, educational status and employment status were positive predictors of HIV testing. Women aged 24 to 34 years (OR = 3.05, 95% CI 2.89 - 3.22), living with a partner but not married (OR = 3.46, 95% CI 2.99 - 3.98), separated from husband (OR = 3.56, 95% CI 2.91 4.31), employed (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 2.08 - 2.29) and having post-secondary education (OR = 23.95, 95% CI 21.87 26.29) were more likely to test for HIV. The geographic location had a negative predictive effect on HIV testing (OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.33 0.36), with women living in rural areas less likely to test for HIV.
Conclusion: The result suggests the need to focus on adolescents and older women, unemployed women, less educated women and women living in rural areas to enhance HIV testing towards the positive social change of eliminating MTCT. It is recommended that future research will use recent HIV testing to examine predictors of HIV testing in contrast to lifetime HIV testing used in this study.